NBA referees giving strange calls and players being unhappy about them is not a new story in the league. However, during this season, the officials continue to call fouls for the most bizarre reasons. A few incidents in recent times where any kind of emotion shown by players results in technical fouls.
A similar situation took place in a game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Indiana Pacers. In the third quarter, with 5:10 minutes on the clock, Clippers guard Russell Westbrook had a clean dunk on Pacers Tyrese Haliburton. Naturally, after the dunk, Westbrook celebrated his move by taunting his opponent. The 35-year-old showed his competitive spirit and barked in Haliburton’s face.
The few seconds of celebration did not sit well with the game officials. Referee J.T. Orr immediately called for a technical foul. It left Westbrook, along with his teammate Paul George in disbelief. Other than the foul being called for a ridiculous reason, the free throw also put the Clippers at a disadvantage, as the Pacers had a six-point lead. This added to the player’s frustration towards the foul.
The game turned in the Pacers’ favor as they defeated the Clippers 133-116. Despite the game coming close, the Pacers managed to keep the lead throughout the 3rd and 4th quarters. Attribute to Pascal Siakim‘s 31-point performance. Haliburton also helped with his 21 points and nine assists. Westbrook, who returned from injury, scored 14 points, four rebounds, and seven assists in 18 minutes.
Russell Westbrook receives a warm welcome from Clippers fans
In the game against the Pacers, Russell Westbrook returned from injury after missing 12 games for his team. The former MVP suffered a hand fracture on March 1st in a game against the Washington Wizards. Due to hurting himself while trying to get the ball from Jordan Poole, Westbrook exited the game early.
Later, it was revealed that the player would require surgery for fracturing his left hand. The Clippers missed his presence, as they were 6-6 in those 12 games. Tonight in the Crypto.com arena, the player received a warm welcome from the Clippers fans. As the guard checked into the game, the fans applauded and chanted “Brodie,” referring to the star’s nickname.
Coming back from a fracture, Westbrook performed exceptionally well. The player’s limited 18 minutes were essential for the team. Dunking on the opposite team’s star player after coming from the bench was a perfect way for Westbrook to highlight his return. Despite losing the game, the Clippers are still the 5th team in the Western Conference. With Westbrook’s return, the team can improve their performance even more.
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