Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook was fined $35,000 by the NBA.
Earlier this week, the Denver Nuggets hosted the New York Knicks in Colorado.
Despite the Nuggets getting blown out (145-118), Russell Westbrook had one of his best games of the season.
The 2017 MVP finished with 27 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block while shooting 9/16 from the field and 4/7 from the three-point range in 26 minutes.
However, the NBA has now announced that Westbrook has been fined $35,000.
Via NBA Communications: “Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook has been fined $35,000 for making an obscene gesture on the playing court in the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 145-118 loss to the New York Knicks on Nov. 25 at Ball Arena, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.”
Westbrook is in his first year playing for Denver after signing with the team over the offseason.
He is averaging 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.5 steals per contest while shooting 39.1% from the field and 37.5% from the three-point range in 17 games.
Via Legion Hoops: “The NBA has fined Russell Westbrook $35K for flipping off the Knicks bench in Nuggets’ loss on Monday.”
The Nuggets bounced back by defeating the Utah Jazz 122-103 (on Wednesday in Salt Lake City).
They will play their next game on Sunday when they visit the LA Clippers.
The Nuggets are currently the seventh seed in the Western Conference with a 10-7 record in their first 17 games of the season.
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Knicks Need OG Anunoby
The New York Knicks made it their mission to acquire OG Anunoby in a trade from the Toronto Raptors for a while, and they were finally able to pull the trigger in December of last year.
Anunoby was an immediate difference-maker for the Knicks last season and he has been even better after signing a long-term deal to stay in New York for five years.
“He’s long, quick, and strong. There’s no backing him down in the post. There’s no blowing by him off the dribble. There’s no screening him off the ball if he doesn’t want to switch,” Michael Pina of The Ringer writes. “Anunoby can be a bit rigid with the ball in his hands, but that shortcoming isn’t a concern next to Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns. When he’s healthy—which, to be fair, has been only about two-thirds of the past four seasons—few role players are bigger stars within the space they occupy.”
Anunoby is the head of the snake for the Knicks on the defensive end of the floor, and that can be extremely refreshing for a team that has a number of offensive stars.
While the Knicks have struggled on the defensive end of the floor this season, Anunoby has been one of the bright spots for the team. As the Knicks look to figure out how to get better stopping the ball, Anunoby needs to be the one leading the charge.
In order for the Knicks to get things right on defense, Anunoby must play up to his All-Defensive level. If he doesn’t, then the Knicks might not be as far along as they thought and they may need to go back to the drawing board.
The Knicks are back in action tomorrow against the Charlotte Hornets. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. ET.
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