Oklahoma City Thunder star point guard Russell Westbrook will be serving a one-game suspension after recording his 16th technical foul this season, the NBA announced today via Tomer Azarly.
Westbrook recorded the foul in the first half of the Thunder's Saturday night loss to the Golden State Warriors. According to Royce Young of ESPN, the call had a chance to be rescinded, in which case he wouldn't be suspended. But the league did not rescind Westbrook's technical.
The suspension will also result in a fine for Westbrook. It also opens the door for another potential suspension if he collects two more technical fouls.
The one game suspension for Russell Westbrook will cost the guard $245,891. Westbrook has 16 technical fouls and will be suspended again when he picks up no. 18. The suspension will save the Thunder $522,521 toward the luxury tax.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) March 17, 2019
History says that Westbrook will get technical fouls. This is a new high for him, however. He reached this point in a previous season, but the league decided to rescind the foul. That was not the case this time around.
Of all games to get the technical foul, last night might have been among the most worthy. Westbrook ended the game 2-of-16 from the field with eight rebounds and nine assists.
The Thunder are currently in fifth place in the Western Conference, one game above the San Antonio Spurs. A one-game suspension won't make a giant difference either way, but it still is not ideal in a stretch run.
The Thunder's next game is against the Miami Heat, who are fighting to hold onto the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. There are worse opponents to play without the services of Westbrook.
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