Russell Westbrook’s Gritty Night Overshadowed by Controversial OT Foul in Kings’ Loss to Blazers
Russell Westbrook gave Sacramento everything he had. A vintage double-double.
Relentless energy. A furious comeback effort.
But in the end, the conversation wasn’t just about what he did-it was about a whistle that left fans fuming.
In a wild 134-133 overtime loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, Westbrook once again proved he still has plenty left in the tank. The 37-year-old guard helped erase an 18-point deficit, delivering one of his most determined performances of the season. But with just under two seconds left in OT, a foul call on Westbrook flipped the script-and the game.
The Foul That Sparked a Firestorm
With the game hanging in the balance, Portland’s Deni Avdija stepped to the line after drawing a foul on Westbrook. He calmly sank both free throws, giving the Blazers the lead for good. Sacramento had one last chance, but Keon Ellis’ desperation heave didn’t fall, and the Kings were left stunned.
The foul call itself? Let’s just say it didn’t sit well with a large portion of NBA Twitter.
Close-up images of the play circulated quickly, with many arguing that Westbrook had lost control of his body mid-air and that Avdija initiated the contact. Some fans pointed to the league’s own “initiated contact” rule in defense of Westbrook. Others went further, accusing the league of inconsistency-or worse.
Even media members weighed in. Alec Strum, a reporter covering the Nets, didn’t hold back: “That game-deciding foul on Russell Westbrook is one of the worst calls I’ve ever seen,” he posted, referencing a recent breakdown from Thinking Basketball that examined similar situations.
Westbrook’s Performance Deserved More
Lost in the controversy was the fact that Westbrook played one of his most complete games of the season. While DeMar DeRozan stole the spotlight with 35 points and a clutch turnaround jumper to force overtime, Westbrook was the engine behind Sacramento’s second-half surge.
It was his second 20-point outing in the last four games and the sixth time this season he’s hit that mark. But it wasn’t just the scoring-it was the timing of his buckets that stood out.
After a slow start-his first points didn’t come until the 8:39 mark of the first quarter-Westbrook gradually found his rhythm. He added a running layup late in the second quarter, but it was the fourth quarter and overtime where he really turned it on.
With the Kings clawing back, Westbrook attacked the rim with purpose. He scored on a driving layup off a Maxime Raynaud assist with 4:25 left in regulation, then added another with just 21.4 seconds to go. In overtime, he had one more hard-charging finish with 1:26 left, showcasing the same fearless aggression that’s defined his career.
The Bigger Picture
For Westbrook, this game was another reminder that he’s still a factor. He may not be the nightly triple-double machine he once was, but he’s still capable of shifting momentum, sparking comebacks, and putting pressure on defenses with his signature downhill style.
Unfortunately, it’s also a reminder of how quickly the narrative can change. One whistle, one call, and suddenly a hard-fought performance becomes a footnote to controversy.
Still, if there’s one thing we know about Westbrook-it’s that he won’t let this moment define him. He’s been through too much, overcome too many doubts, and silenced too many critics to let one call derail his grind. And if the Kings can bottle the fight they showed in this one, they’ll have plenty more chances to flip the script.