Oklahoma City Thunder: Thunder lose crucial game to the Pacers and, potentially, Russell Westbrook to suspension
with only 5:20 left, Miles’ dagger gave the Pacers a 12-point lead in their eventual 116-104 win over the Thunder. At the same time, the Pelicans were holding steady to a surprising advantage down in Houston, a result that would have put OKC on the brink of playoff extinction.
A potential disaster scenario was unfolding. And it was only worsened by what had happened moments earlier.
With the Thunder still in the game – trailing by five with 5:56 left – Russell Westbrook was called for a foul at the top of the key. Luis Scola and Westbrook had collided, Westbrook drew the whistle and didn’t agree. He chirped a little at referee Ed Malloy. Malloy, peeved at the argument, nailed Westbrook with a technical.
In most cases, not a disaster. A small fine for Westbrook, one free throw for the Pacers and the game resumes. But this technical, potentially, came with far greater consequences.
It was Westbrook’s 16th technical of the season, which, per NBA rules, comes with an automatic one-game suspension, meaning he will miss OKC’s crucial home tilt against the Blazers on Monday night.
“He was aware (that he was at 15),” coach Scott Brooks said. “He’s been aware for a while now.”
The Rockets came back to beat the Pelicans, tossing the Thunder a temporary life raft during this tidal wave of bad decisions and bad luck. But Westbrook’s potential absence in a near must-win game against Portland could still be the death knell.
“I got no view on it,” Westbrook said of the technical. “He called it, and we’ll move on.”
The Thunder, though, remain hopeful Westbrook’s suspension will get overturned. Last month during a road game in Phoenix, Westbrook was called for a questionable technical. The next day, the league rescinded it.
Following Sunday night’s loss in Indiana, Brooks, who was standing directly in front of Malloy and Westbrook when the brief argument occurred, said he believed the league would take this one back, too.
“I’m pretty confident that one will be rescinded,” Brooks said. “That’s not my decision, but I’m pretty confident about it.”
The Thunder and the league will be in contact on Monday morning, with a review likely to lead to an official decision by the afternoon. OKC and the Blazers tip off at 7 p.m. in The Peake.
“That’s not my decision. The league will take care of that,” Westbrook said, adding that he’s “always, always” confident his teammates can take care of business even if he is forced to miss the game.
The technical fiasco only put a cap on what was one of the wildest nights of Westbrook’s wildly polarizing career.
With his teammates struggling early on, Westbrook caught fire. He had 22 points and four assists in the first quarter, scoring or assisting on 30 of OKC’s 32 points. By halftime, he had 29 on an efficient 12-of-21 shooting. He was taking a lot of shots, but making the majority of them.
“We didn’t really mind he was the only guy going,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. “He scored 29 in the first half that we were winning.”
In the third, Westbrook’s efficiency dipped. He made only 2-of-9 shots in the quarter and, though his surrounding teammates heated up from the field, they struggled from the line. In arguably the season’s most important game, OKC went a putrid 11-of-28 on free throws. Steven Adams and Dion Waiters were a combined 0-of-10.
But despite those troubles, despite Westbrook’s third quarter bout with inefficiency, despite the technical with far-reaching consequences and the immediate momentum-building 7-0 Pacers run that followed, OKC remained in it.
During a 60-second spurt late in the fourth quarter – from the 4:13 mark to the 3:13 mark – Westbrook went on an explosive and wildly entertaining 8-0 run, firing in an and-1 jumper, a long three and a transition layup to bring the Thunder back in it. It was the highlight sequence of his career-high 54-point night. But he needed 43 shots and 15 3-point attempts to accumulate it.
“If he’s going to take 43 shots, he’s going to score a lot of points and nobody else on the court will get into a rhythm,” Vogel said.
“I don’t really give a damn what nobody think to tell you the truth,” Westbrook said when asked about the criticism of his shot selection. “I really don’t care. Every night I go out and compete harder than anyone else in this league. I’m proud of (that) and my teammates don’t have a problem with it. I’m good with that.”
The late spurt, though, was to no avail. OKC lost on a night it could have jumped the Pelicans and retaken control of the eighth seed. Now, in the season’s final two games, OKC still must gain one on New Orleans.
And, potentially, the Thunder may have to do that without the suspended Russell Westbrook on Monday night. Stay tuned.
with only 5:20 left, Miles’ dagger gave the Pacers a 12-point lead in their eventual 116-104 win over the Thunder. At the same time, the Pelicans were holding steady to a surprising advantage down in Houston, a result that would have put OKC on the brink of playoff extinction.
A potential disaster scenario was unfolding. And it was only worsened by what had happened moments earlier.
With the Thunder still in the game – trailing by five with 5:56 left – Russell Westbrook was called for a foul at the top of the key. Luis Scola and Westbrook had collided, Westbrook drew the whistle and didn’t agree. He chirped a little at referee Ed Malloy. Malloy, peeved at the argument, nailed Westbrook with a technical.
In most cases, not a disaster. A small fine for Westbrook, one free throw for the Pacers and the game resumes. But this technical, potentially, came with far greater consequences.
It was Westbrook’s 16th technical of the season, which, per NBA rules, comes with an automatic one-game suspension, meaning he will miss OKC’s crucial home tilt against the Blazers on Monday night.
“He was aware (that he was at 15),” coach Scott Brooks said. “He’s been aware for a while now.”
The Rockets came back to beat the Pelicans, tossing the Thunder a temporary life raft during this tidal wave of bad decisions and bad luck. But Westbrook’s potential absence in a near must-win game against Portland could still be the death knell.
“I got no view on it,” Westbrook said of the technical. “He called it, and we’ll move on.”
The Thunder, though, remain hopeful Westbrook’s suspension will get overturned. Last month during a road game in Phoenix, Westbrook was called for a questionable technical. The next day, the league rescinded it.
Following Sunday night’s loss in Indiana, Brooks, who was standing directly in front of Malloy and Westbrook when the brief argument occurred, said he believed the league would take this one back, too.
“I’m pretty confident that one will be rescinded,” Brooks said. “That’s not my decision, but I’m pretty confident about it.”
The Thunder and the league will be in contact on Monday morning, with a review likely to lead to an official decision by the afternoon. OKC and the Blazers tip off at 7 p.m. in The Peake.
“That’s not my decision. The league will take care of that,” Westbrook said, adding that he’s “always, always” confident his teammates can take care of business even if he is forced to miss the game.
The technical fiasco only put a cap on what was one of the wildest nights of Westbrook’s wildly polarizing career.
With his teammates struggling early on, Westbrook caught fire. He had 22 points and four assists in the first quarter, scoring or assisting on 30 of OKC’s 32 points. By halftime, he had 29 on an efficient 12-of-21 shooting. He was taking a lot of shots, but making the majority of them.
“We didn’t really mind he was the only guy going,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. “He scored 29 in the first half that we were winning.”
In the third, Westbrook’s efficiency dipped. He made only 2-of-9 shots in the quarter and, though his surrounding teammates heated up from the field, they struggled from the line. In arguably the season’s most important game, OKC went a putrid 11-of-28 on free throws. Steven Adams and Dion Waiters were a combined 0-of-10.
But despite those troubles, despite Westbrook’s third quarter bout with inefficiency, despite the technical with far-reaching consequences and the immediate momentum-building 7-0 Pacers run that followed, OKC remained in it.
During a 60-second spurt late in the fourth quarter – from the 4:13 mark to the 3:13 mark – Westbrook went on an explosive and wildly entertaining 8-0 run, firing in an and-1 jumper, a long three and a transition layup to bring the Thunder back in it. It was the highlight sequence of his career-high 54-point night. But he needed 43 shots and 15 3-point attempts to accumulate it.
“If he’s going to take 43 shots, he’s going to score a lot of points and nobody else on the court will get into a rhythm,” Vogel said.
“I don’t really give a damn what nobody think to tell you the truth,” Westbrook said when asked about the criticism of his shot selection. “I really don’t care. Every night I go out and compete harder than anyone else in this league. I’m proud of (that) and my teammates don’t have a problem with it. I’m good with that.”
The late spurt, though, was to no avail. OKC lost on a night it could have jumped the Pelicans and retaken control of the eighth seed. Now, in the season’s final two games, OKC still must gain one on New Orleans.
And, potentially, the Thunder may have to do that without the suspended Russell Westbrook on Monday night. Stay tuned.