If the already-hot rivalry between Patrick Beverley and Russell Westbrook needed any more fuel, Beverley provided it on Wednesday night.
Beverley stole a pass from Westbrook late in the second quarter of Wednesday’s game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers. The turnover eventually led to two Minnesota points, when Anthony Edwards was fouled and knocked down a pair of free throws. It was a nice play from Beverley. In and of itself, though, the steal was not notable. What happened afterward was.
Prior to Edwards taking his free throws, Beverley — who never backs down from conflict — took trash talk to its literal extreme. He looked towards the Los Angeles bench and took a not-so-subtle verbal jab at Westbrook’s game, saying, “He’s trash.”
After Patrick Beverley intercepted Russell Westbrook's pass, he looked towards the Lakers bench and shouted, "He's trash!" 💀 pic.twitter.com/sLXWF6Y1ld
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 17, 2022
THIS IS SO DISRESPECTFUL 🤣😂
Lakers are losing by 21 points at half. pic.twitter.com/XeL2cCrSCi
— Covers (@Covers) March 17, 2022
This is another lowlight in what’s been a rough season for Westbrook.
In what’s become an all-too-common theme for Los Angeles and its fans, Beverley’s steal of Westbrook was one play in what was a miserable start for the Lakers. Los Angeles started slow in its previous game against the Toronto Raptors, but while they still lost the game, finished well. That momentum did not carry through into the first half of Tuesday’s game in Minnesota.
The Timberwolves dominated the first half, opening up a 67-46 halftime lead. So, if Westbrook was trash in the first two quarters, he had company.
