Let Russ cook?
The Clippers outlasted the Suns 115-10 in their opening matchup of the NBA Playoffs, with Russell Westbrook sealing the game for L.A. on a critical out-of-bounds save. Westbrook finished the night 3-of-19 shooting, but he was 1-of-1 on shots taken at a fan during halftime.
As the Clippers made their way out of the locker room for the second half, Westbrook found himself in a floor-level lounge, confronting a fan and offering some choice words in the process.
MORE: Westbrook's fourth-quarter heroics help Clippers stun Suns in Game 1
(Editor's note: Video contains some NSFW language.)
Russell Westbrook got into it with a Suns fan at halftime of Game 1 😳
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) April 17, 2023
🎥: @BCH66223
pic.twitter.com/3ReVXgWvDY
The lounge is used as a shortcut for players entering and exiting the locker room, so it's not out of place for Westbrook to have found himself in that spot. It's also not exactly out of place for Westbrook to have confronted a fan.
In 2022, Westbrook defended himself from some courtside hecklers, demanding fans not to "disrespect my name." In 2019, cameras caught Westbrook telling a fan, "I'll f— you up." Those are two more recent examples of Westbrook heckling hecklers.
MORE: Ranking the 30 best players in the 2023 NBA Playoffs
To the guard's point, fans have crossed the line for their vocal critiques of players in years past, so he may deserve benefit of the doubt in these situations.
Still, Westbrook may have sealed the game on defense, but on Monday morning, his defensive personality grabbed headlines once again.
