Russell Westbrook was embroiled in a heated confrontation with fans as his LA Clippers side emerged victorious on Sunday night.
During the interval of their opening NBA playoff game of their first round series with the Phoenix Suns, the point guard was making his way back to the locker room. But to make a shortcut, Westbrook and co cut through a club area - something teams have been doing all season, according to a Suns insider.
While Westbrook was passing the hospitality area, a video has since emerged on Twitter of him arguing with a fan supporting the Suns.
The fan was heard saying “Take it like a man!”, to which Westbrook snapped: "Watch your mouth, motherf***er, what your mouth!”, as he continued to make his way to the locker room. User @BCH66223 uploaded the video to Twitter and claimed he was at the scene, wrote: “Russ going at a fan at 1/2 time next to me. No idea what caused it.”
In a statement, the Suns said: "We are aware of the incident that happened tonight, and are conducting a review."
Westbrook was fuelled by the exchange with the fan at the halfway mark as he produced some pivotal plays in the fourth quarter to propel the Clippers to a 115-110 victory. While he had a difficult night shooting the ball, making just three of his 19 shots from the field, Westbrook left his mark on the game in other areas.
He led his team in assists, offensive rebounds, steals, and blocks and finished with nine points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and three blocks on the night. In the fourth quarter alone, Westbrook secured five rebounds, two of which were offensive), three assists, a steal, and two blocks.
His biggest play was a clutch block on Phoenix guard Devin Booker, with the Clippers leading 111-108 with just over 10 seconds remaining. He also had the presence of mind to slap the ball off Booker's leg, before it went out of bounds, securing possession for the Clippers.
*WARNING OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE IN THE EMBEDDED VIDEO*
Prior to his excellent defensive efforts down the stretch, Westbrook also hit two important free throws to extend the Clippers lead with 17 seconds to play. “I think I’m one of those guys: I can do everything each and every night,” Westbrook said post-match. “Like, I’ve always told you guys whatever is needed of me to win the game, I’ll do it. I’m just grateful.”
Clippers coach Tyron Lue added: “He [Westbrook] did a great job, pursuing the basketball, not melting on screens, continuing to keep coming. I’ve never seen a guy block KD’s shot but a point guard blocking KD’s shot tells you how hard he’s playing and how locked in he is."
In his first playoff game for the Suns, Kevin Durant led them in scoring with 27 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds and post game he reserved praise for his former teammate’s impact on the game.
"He [Westbrook] made some huge plays there in the fourth on the offensive glass," Durant said after losing his first game in a Suns uniform. "That's how they're going to get points, that's how they're going to get extra possessions, 10 more possessions than us, [we] can't win a game like that."
