Durant-Westbrook feud seems worse

As the Warriors turn:

It won’t be long before Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook spend a weekend on the same team. They’ll be together on the Western Conference AllStar team Feb. 19, potentially awkward for an ice-cold relationship that gets more frigid by the day.

But that is exactly the situation after the Warriors’ 121-100 victory over Oklahoma City on Wednesday night. Westbrook made that abundantly clear all evening.

The two didn’t come close to tapping hands before tip-off. Although they appeared to have a brief exchange in the third quarter — Durant definitely said something — Westbrook denied that it took place (that’s vintage denial). And after the game, as the teams left the floor, Westbrook turned to teammate Enes Kanter and muttered, “Don’t say what’s-up to that bitch ass.”

I don’t think Westbrook was referring to Steve Kerr. It could have been Zaza Pachulia, who stood over the fallen Westbrook like a triumphant prize fighter after their secondquarter collision, but speculation is leaning heavily toward Durant.

In any case, Westbroook made it clear after the game (“Nah”) that the two are not on speaking terms. That’s strictly their business. But it will be intriguing to see them line up together for the Western Conference, not long after the Warriors’ game in Oklahoma City on Feb. 11. This is developing into the most personal rivalry in the league.

Westbrook had a couple of successful drives to the hoop, once blowing past Anderson Varejao for a dunk, but none in the first half. The Warriors made sure of that. Ignoring Westbrook’s supporting cast of mediocrity, they threw up a defensive barrier every time.

Kerr took no chances with 3:30 left and the Warriors up by 19. Westbrook was still in the game — and so were Durant, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.

Called for traveling, Westbrook actually took five steps as he walked upcourt with the ball in the third quarter. Apparently, it’s fine to take four; it’s that fifth step you want to avoid.

Felt deeply sorry for the people of Oakland as the Warriors turned Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony into a gaudy three-ring circus. Just put the shovels in the damned ground. Acrobats, gospel singers, excavators dancing in unison — really nauseating.