The Los Angeles Clippers stunned the Phoenix Suns with a 115-110 road victory in Game 1 of their first-round series of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on Sunday night.
Russell Westbrook made several key plays down the stretch on both ends of the floor to help Los Angeles secure the upset victory over the Western Conference title favorites.
What a play by Russell Westbrook! 🏀🧠 pic.twitter.com/niZG5nzzAB
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) April 17, 2023
It turns out that Westbrook was also involved in a wild moment at halftime.
Video has surfaced of Westbrook having a heated exchange with a Suns fan at Footprint Center on Sunday night.
It’s unclear what the fan said to lead to Westbrook’s reaction in a bizarre scene, but the nine-time All-Star told the fan at halftime, “Watch your mouth! Watch your mouth, m***********! Watch your mouth! Watch your mouth”
Russell Westbrook got into it with a Suns fan at halftime of Game 1 😳
🎥: @BCH66223
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) April 17, 2023
Blake Christopher recorded the video and said on Twitter, “No idea what caused the [reaction].”
Russ going at a fan at 1/2 time next to me. No idea what caused it.
— Blake Christopher (@BCH66223) April 17, 2023
So, while it’s unclear what was said by the fan, it’s clearly something that was enough to make Westbrook very unhappy.
Whatever the case, Westbrook got the last laugh.
As StatMuse tweeted, Westbrook had a “clutch offensive rebound,” went “2 for 2 on clutch free throws,” and had a “clutch block on (Devin) Booker” in the final minutes of the Clippers’ victory.
Westbrook in the last minutes:
— Clutch offensive rebound
— 2 for 2 on clutch free throws
— Clutch block on BookerDifference maker. pic.twitter.com/kS1GKf4ShJ
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 17, 2023
Perhaps Westbrook got some extra second-half motivation from the Phoenix fan at halftime.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.