Westbrook relaxes in fourth quarter as Thunder cruises
of the Chicago Bulls and
of the Toronto Raptors each drew one-game suspensions from the NBA on Wednesday for throwing punches during an altercation from the Bulls’ overtime loss at the Raptors on Tuesday. Both players were ejected for the fracas.
The league also fined Raptors assistant coach
$15,000 for shoving and “acting as other than a peacemaker as part of the same altercation.”
Lopez, the only Bull to play in every game this season, missed Wednesday’s home game against the Detroit Pistons.
Ibaka, a former Thunder star, will miss the Raptors’ road game Thursday at the Miami Heat.
Going pro
College players who announced Wednesday that they are declaring for the NBA Draft:
•Duke’s a 6-foot-8, 205-pound freshman wing. Tatum averaged 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds. •Florida State guard
The 6-7 sophomore led the Seminoles in scoring the past two years, averaging 17.2 points per game this season. •California sophomore
The 6-11 forward was Cal’s second-leading scorer at 14.0 points and top rebounder averaging 10.5 boards.
Whiteside takes 13 stitches
A day after opening a 13-stitch gash on his right hand, Miami center
said Wednesday his goal is to get back on the court as soon as possible.
Whiteside, who missed four games with a similar injury two seasons ago, was injured in the closing minutes of Tuesday night’s victory over the Phoenix Suns at AmericanAirlines Arena, when his split his hand on the backboard between his ring and middle finger.
FROM WIRE REPORTS
got to take it easy in the fourth quarter on Wednesday.
He isn’t clamoring for a longer rest.
The Thunder’s 122-97 win against the Philadelphia 76ers at Chesapeake Energy Arena was its 71st game of the regular season, and Westbrook has started them all. He didn’t have to finish on Wednesday, resting with his team in command and a triple-double (18 points, 11 rebounds, 14 assists) in hand.
As the subject of sitting players — particularly for nationally televised games — emerges as a hot topic in the NBA, it’s rarely been an issue for Oklahoma City, with a star point guard who prefers to be on the court when he can.
Multiple media outlets reported on Monday that the NBA sent a memo to its 30 teams calling the resting of players “an extremely significant issue” and imploring owners to get involved in the decision-making process.
It’s not much of an issue for Westbrook, who “wants to play every single night, and if it was up to him, he’d play 48 minutes,” Thunder coach
said before Wednesday’s game.
But resting players has become a talking point after teams sat stars in each of the past two ABC Saturday night games. The Warriors rested
and for a Jan. 11 game against the Spurs, and last Saturday the Cavaliers sat LeBronJames, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love against the Clippers.
Giving Westbrook a game off to rest is “not necessarily something that we’re opposed to,” Donovan said. But Donovan understands that “fans are coming out to watch players play.” The Thunder considers carefully how to approach rest.
“It’s really a collaborative effort,” Donovan said. “It’s not just me. It’s not just the player. It’s not just the medical staff. involved with that, and his communication with Mr.
is always open dialogue. So, we’re discussing those things, I think, as an organization, as a group.”
Westbrook rested two games late last season, but after having missed significant time to injury in 2013-14 and 2014-15, he prefers not to sit.
That doesn’t mean he’s opposed to stealing some rest in a blowout.
“I love sitting out in the fourth quarter,” Westbrook said after playing 28 minutes in Wednesday’s game. “That’s a totally different thing. It’s not even close to the same thing.”
Nick’s time
Fans roared for
when the Thunder center entered Wednesday’s game with 8:29 to play in the fourth quarter, and he didn’t disappoint, playing the rest of the game and finishing with seven points, five rebounds and two assists.
It was Collison’s first action since Feb. 11, and he’s discussed with Donovan his desire to play longer stretches when he can, to prove to himself he can play if called upon.
“I want to play,” Collison said. “The last three, four minutes of blowouts, we both agreed that’s not the best time to put me in, and I appreciate that. But if I can get an extended run like that, I want to be able to get out there.”
Free throw woes
free-throw misses might have hit rock bottom against the Sixers. The Thunder center shot 0 for 5 from the foul line, the most attempts he’s had in a game this season without a make.
That performance dropped Adams’ free-throw percentage since the AllStar break to 39.2 percent.