OKLAHOMA CITY — Russell Westbrook said, “It’s my fault, it’s on me,” when asked about his double-digit turnovers in the Lakers’ 123-115 loss to the Thunder on Wednesday. But he stood by his actions that led him to be ejected in the final seconds, marring his return to OKC.
“How I play the game, I’m more old-school,” Westbrook said, explaining why he took issue with the Thunder’s Darius Bazley for scoring on a breakaway dunk with 1.5 seconds remaining, rather than dribbling out the clock. “And when s— like that happens, I don’t let it slide. … In the game of basketball, there’s certain things you just don’t do. Like in baseball, you don’t flip the bat. There’s certain things you don’t do in sports when the game’s already over. And I didn’t like it. Simple as that.”
Westbrook pointed at Bazley and repeatedly yelled, “Don’t do that,” before teammates came between the two and Westbrook received a technical foul — his second of the night, resulting in the ejection.
It was the final dismal scene in a disaster of a night for the Lakers as they failed to protect a 26-point first-half lead and went 0-for-3 on potential game-tying 3s in the final 30 seconds, losing to a Thunder team that came into the night 0-4.
“A disappointing loss, but a lesson learned,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “An NBA season is a long season and a lesson for our group that you can’t ever take your foot off the gas against anyone.”
As much as growing pains could be expected for a Lakers team that is integrating 12 new players and juggling a handful of injuries with LeBron James, Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, Trevor Ariza and Wayne Ellington all sidelined, Anthony Davis didn’t accept that crutch.
“This ain’t no adjustment period at all,” said Davis, whose 30 points and eight rebounds went for naught. “Not this game. That’s just straight on us. … This isn’t an adjustment game where I feel like it’s, ‘Oh, we’re still learning each other.’ … Nah. Not this game.”
Two disturbing…
Source : espn
