Thunder’s Westbrook suspended for Monday’s game

MIAMI — Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star guard Russell Westbrook will miss Monday night’s game against the Miami Heat at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Westbrook, who closed with a triple-double in the Thunder’s victory last month at AmericanAirlines Arena, with 14 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds, was assessed his 16th technical foul of the season in the second quarter of Saturday night’s loss to the Golden State Warriors, reaching the league’s threshold for suspension.

The NBA reviews all technical fouls and already had rescinded two Westbrook technical fouls this season, calls that were made on Feb. 5 and Feb. 11. This time though Saturday’s call by referee Tyler Ford proved to be to be textbook, as Westbrook complained when called for a foul against Klay Thompson.

That led to NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki Vandeweghe formally announcing the suspension on Sunday.

Westbrook had declined to address the possibility of a suspension, responding “Next question” three times

when asked about the technical foul and the implications of the call.

Thunder coach Billy Donovan said after the loss the decision rested with the NBA.

“Obviously, I want Russell playing and I want him out there,” Donovan said before the league’s announcement, “but we’ll see what happens and how this all shakes out.”

Westbrook shot 2 of 16 in the loss to the Warriors, including 0 for 7 on 3-pointers. He is averaging 22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds and 10.5 assists.

Westbrook is backed up at point guard on the Thunder roster by veterans Dennis

Schroder and Raymond Felton.

The Thunder are in a race with the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers for homecourt advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

The Heat’s leader in technical fouls is guard Justise Winslow, with four, with coach Erik Spoelstra having been called for three.

It is Westbrook’s first suspension for reaching the NBA’s technical-foul threshold. He also reached 16 technical fouls in 2014-15, but later had that 16th technical foul rescinded. The technical-foul meter is reset at the start of the playoffs.

The technical foul carries a $5,000 fine in addition to the loss of a game’s pay.

The game in Oklahoma City opens a three-game trip for the Heat that is followed by stops against the San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards.

Dwyane Wade said the Heat, battling for the No. 8 playoff spot on the East, are in no position to take anyone lightly, even without a leading man.

“They’ve got Paul George. It’s not just one player,” Wade said after Sunday’s 93-75 victory over the Charlotte Hornets at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Three things: With a thirdquarter conversion Sunday, Heat guard Dion Waiters extended his career-longest streak to 20 consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer.

Waiters closed 4 of 8 from beyond the arc.

Waiters is the fourth Heat player this season to establish such a career-best streak.

Josh Richardson did it in 19 consecutive games from Nov. 13 to Jan. 4, Justise Winslow in 14 consecutive games from Nov. 16 to Dec. 14 and Kelly Olynyk in 11 consecutive games from Feb. 11 to March 8.

Winslow, who sat out Sunday with a thigh bruise, has an active 13-game streak that began Feb. 10.

Donation made: As part of the team’s “Re-Heat” program, that Heat on Sunday delivered unserved food from Sunday game to Camillus House, with former Heat center Alonzo Mourning assisting in the process.

The program has delivered over 49,000 pounds of food to the Miami Rescue Mission and Chapman Partnership and Camillus House.

JUNE FRANTZ HUNT/AP Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook was called for his 16th technical foul Saturday in a loss to Warriors, which led to his suspension for Monday’s visit by the Miami Heat.