Russell Westbrook came unglued against the Atlanta Hawks Friday night. With the Washington Wizards trailing big, Westbrook let his emotions and the antics of the crafty Rajon Rondo get the best of him.
Westbrook, who already had a technical foul earlier in the game, rubbed elbows with Rondo before giving him a shove. That drew a second technical for Westbrook and ejection from the game in the fourth quarter.
As Westbrook was being escorted off the floor, Rondo waved goodbye. Then proceeded to receive a round of high-fives from his Atlanta teammates.
Rondo and Westbrook received double technical fouls in the second quarter for chirping at each other. As the game went on, tension grew, including Wizards center Robin Lopez being ejected. The tension between Rondo and Westbrook carried on until Westbrook’s ejection.
It’s unfortunate because Westbrook was having one of his better nights of the season. He finished the game with 26 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the field in 27 minutes. He added six rebounds and four assists.
Coincidentally, Rondo received a second technical later in the quarter to get ejected as well. The Hawks won the game 116-100.
This is the second straight game an opposing veteran point guard drew the ire of Russell Westbrook. He and Houston Rockets guard John Wall got into a heated exchange in Tuesday’s game. Both received double technicals as well.
