Mavericks role players Charlie Villanueva and Justin Anderson tried to make a statement Monday night by getting in the middle of Russell Westbrook and Cameron Payne’s pregame “Swagdaddies” dance session.
Though the Thunder players seemed unfazed at the time, Westbrook and Kevin Durant trashed the effort after losing Game 2.
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Charlie Villanueva tried to get in the way of Russell Westbrook and Cameron Payne's pregame routine: pic.twitter.com/7zhvasINPP
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) April 19, 2016
"That's fake s—,” Durant told reporters after an abysmal 7-of-33 shooting performance in the 85-84 loss.
Westbrook agreed with Durant’s assessment.
"That's for the guys that don't play. You gotta do something," Westbrook said.
Westbrook may have a point. Villanueva, who was the main instigator, was a DNP-coaches decision, while Anderson logged 14 minutes. Anderson downplayed the incident and said: "Nah, nothing happened.”
But Villanueva relished the opportunity to discuss his small role in the win that drew the playoff series even at one game apiece.
"I wanted to get invited to the party, but I didn't get no invitation,” he told the Dallas Morning News. "They were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was waiting for my teammates."
Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday in Dallas.