Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook was praised for his defensive hustle late in Game 1 against the Phoenix Suns when he blocked Devin Booker’s shot and then threw the loose ball off of him and out of bounds.
Westbrook was 3-of-19 from the field with nine points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Kawhi Leonard led the game with 38 points, five rebounds and five assists as Los Angeles won 115-110.
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Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, #0, drives on Phoenix Suns guard Damion Lee during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 9, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
After the game, a video surfaced on social media of Westbrook getting into a very heated interaction with a fan during halftime. Westbrook was about to go back onto the court when he was seen jawing back and forth with a man in a Suns hat.
A security guard stepped in between the man and Westbrook as the Los Angeles star yelled at him.
“Watch your mouth,” Westbrook said. “Watch your mouth motherf—er.”
Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook backs down Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, left, during the second half of Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, April 16, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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The fan was telling Westbrook to “take it like a man.” There was a child also present during the tense moment. It did not appear Westbrook addressed the child at all.
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It was certainly not the first time Westbrook and NBA fans have gotten into it.
In 2021, while Westbrook was with the Washington Wizards, he had exited the game due to an injury. As he went back to the locker room, a Philadelphia 76ers fan dumped popcorn on his head.
In 2019, Utah Jazz fans were issued warnings as the then-Oklahoma City Thunder star went back and forth with a group. Westbrook at the time reportedly told the man he would “f— you up.”
Russell Westbrook, #0 of the LA Clippers, is interviewed after winning Round One Game One of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 16, 2023 at Footprint Center in Phoenix. (Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images)
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It is unclear what sparked the interaction with the fan. The first game of the series between the Clippers and the Suns took place at the Footprint Center in Phoenix.
