Russell Westbrook’s brilliant 54 point performance on Sunday was overshadowed by the technical foul that he received during the game.
The technical was huge because it was Westbrook’s sixteenth technical foul of the season. NBA rules stipulate that a player be suspended for one-game for reaching 16 technical fouls during the regular season.
The Thunder are currently in a tight race with the New Orleans Pelicans for the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference and losing Westbrook for one of the team’s two remaining games would have been monumental had the NBA not rescinded the technical one day later.
The NBA announces they have rescinded Russell Westbrook's technical foul from last night. The OKC star will not be suspended a game.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) April 13, 2015
The Pelicans and Thunder currently share the same record but New Orleans hold the series tiebreaker with the Thunder. While the Pelicans control their own destiny, the Thunder will certainly have a better chance of winning their next two games with Westbrook.
Before anyone starts railing on the NBA and the Vast Thunder Conspiracy, the technical that Westbrook received seemed to be a bit overblown. However, if you’re a Pelicans fan, I wouldn’t fault you for being more than slightly salty over the NBA’s decision either.
