Yahoo Finance Clippers' Russell Westbrook gets into heated exchange with fan during playoff game in Phoenix
Russell Westbrook was a major reason why the Los Angeles Clippers were able to upset the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series Sunday night.
Although he shot poorly from the field (3-for-19), Westbrook had key offensive rebounds and defensive stops in the final minutes of the Clippers' 115-110 victory.
Westbrook was also in the middle of a heated exchange with a Suns fan at halftime.
Video surfaced after the game showing Westbrook yelling at the fan as he was returning to the court for the second half. A security guard had to intervene as Westbrook told the fan, "Watch your mouth" and punctuated it with an expletive.
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How did the fan get close enough to Russell Westbrook?
The altercation took place in a club lounge just outside the court at Phoenix's Footprint Center.
As the Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin explains, the lounge area can be used as a shortcut for visiting players to go from their locker room to the court.
I'm sure you've seen the Russell Westbrook/#Suns fan interaction by now, but visiting players have been going through the club area to the visiting lockerroom all season.
It's been used as a short cut to the visiting lockerroom. #ClipperNation #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/HGpOUu0105— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 17, 2023
When an emotional player like Westbrook comes that close to fans of the other team, the situation can escalate – as it did Sunday night.
Russell Westbrook's history with fans
It wasn't the first time Westbrook has had an altercation with an opposing team's fan.
In the 2021 playoffs, when he was a member of the Washington Wizards, Westbrook infamously had popcorn dumped on his head as he was leaving the court in Philadelphia.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Russell Westbrook drops expletive in heated exchange with Suns fan
