NBA News: Russell Westbrook Is At Suspension Zone After Picking Up Another Technical Foul
Thunder guard Russell Westbrook is in the technical-foul danger zone yet again for the second time this season. Westbrook's technical fouls at Phoenix on Friday and at Dallas on Sunday has raised his season totals to 14, with two more leading to a one-game suspension, as per NBA rules.
After Monday's practice, Thunder coach Billy Donovan said to the media that Westbrook is fully aware that he's closing in on a suspension. Donovan believes that the team is important to Westbrook, as well as winning, and Westbrook's presence on the floor is always a huge factor for the team's overall chances of winning a game.
According to a report from News OK, Westbrook's most recent technical foul came in the third quarter of a 104-89 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. After being called for an offensive foul, Westbrook bounced the ball in frustration, and it glanced off of Dallas guard Seth Curry.
The technical foul will be penalized with a fine of $4,000, which is the case for each technical foul between 11 and 15 that a player would accumulate in the season. A 16th technical would carry out a $5,000 fine and a one-game suspension.
After the 16th tech, each two additional technical fouls would result in a suspension, which is one for the 18th, 20th and so on. Westbrook is currently at his 14th, so two more techs would mean a suspension for him.
According to Chat Sports, as of right now, the Pelicans' DeMarcus Cousins is the only player to have been suspended due to technical fouls this season. It has also happened twice, one for his 16th and another for his 18th technical foul of the season.
Westbrook was ejected in Memphis on December 29 for picking up two technical fouls, and he was assessed with yet another against the Clippers just two days later, which gave him 11 in 34 games. Two of those first 11 technical fouls, in games at Detroit on November 14 and against Phoenix on December 17, were later rescinded.
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