Championship hopes fizzle for Oklahoma City Thunder after Russell Westbrook injury in playoffs

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook arrives on crutches for an NBA basketball news conference in Oklahoma City, Thursday, May 16, 2013, on crutches. Torpedoed by an injury to Westbrook, the Thunder's season is over far sooner than expected. After making it to the NBA Finals last season, Oklahoma City couldn't make it out of the second round this year with Westbrook sidelined.(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) (The Associated Press)

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks answers a question during a news conference in Oklahoma City, Thursday, May 16, 2013. Torpedoed by an injury to All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook, the Thunder's season is over far sooner than expected. After making it to the NBA Finals last season, Oklahoma City couldn't make it out of the second round this year with Westbrook sidelined. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) (The Associated Press)

OKLAHOMA CITY – A season filled with championship hopes came to a quicker-than-expected conclusion for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

A chance collision with Houston's Patrick Beverley knocked All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook out for the rest of the postseason, and the Thunder never recovered. Kevin Durant tried filling the void almost single-handedly, but even the three-time scoring champion couldn't carry that heavy of a load.

After getting to the NBA Finals a year earlier, Oklahoma City's season ended in the Western Conference semifinals with a five-game loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Durant said Thursday that every great team and player goes through tough times. The goal is still to win an NBA title.

Said Durant: "I'm not satisfied just being in this league and losing."