UPDATE: The NBA announced Monday that Russell Westbrook dodged a bullet, as his 16th technical foul was rescinded.
The NBA’s leading scorer will suit up tonight in a must-win game against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers.
Per The Oklahoman:
The Thunder is tied with New Orleans for the eighth and final playoff spot, but the Pelicans own the head-to-head tiebreaker over OKC. That means the Thunder must win its final two games and hope the Pelicans lose at least one of its final two.
New Orleans plays at Minnesota on Monday night and finishes the season at home against San Antonio on Wednesday. The Thunder’s regular season finale will be played Wednesday at Minnesota.
Russell Westbrook is in danger of becoming the first player this season suspended for technical fouls, this after picking up his League-high 16th Sunday night in Indiana.
Westbrook, en route to a career-best 54 points in a 116-104 road loss to the Pacers, was whistled for the tech by referee Ed Malloy following a mild protest in the fourth quarter.
That's some bullshit
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) April 13, 2015
The OKC Thunder, in a desperate hunt for the eighth and final Playoff spot in the Western Conference, could be without their superstar point guard Monday night as the Portland Trail Blazers visit.
For what it’s worth, head coach Scott Brooks isn’t worried about a possible Westbrook suspension.
Per The Oklahoman:
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 The next day, the league rescinded it. […] “I’m pretty confident that one will be rescinded,” Brooks said. “That’s not my decision, but I’m pretty confident about it.”
