Russell Westbrook had a hunch: The Rockets players laughing at Andre Roberson missing free throws late in the Thunder’s 113-109 loss in Game 4 probably didn’t get much time off the bench.
Westbrook on the Rockets' bench laughing at Roberson as he missed free throws: pic.twitter.com/lan4oQ7f1s
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) April 24, 2017
“I didn’t see it. I didn’t see it at all,” Westbrook told reporters Monday. “Probably the guys that don’t play, probably the ones over there laughing if I had to guess.”
His guess wasn’t just in the ballpark. It was spot on.
The Rockets repeatedly fouled Roberson, a 42 percent free throw shooter, and watched him miss six of his eight foul shots as Oklahoma City squandered its late-game lead. A few Rockets players were spotted openly laughing while the Thunder guard missed free throw after free throw.
Those players were Montrezl Harrell, Bobby Brown, and the suited-and-booted Sam Dekker.
Dekker hasn’t played a game since April 2 with a left hand injury, but Harrell and Brown have been riding the bench for the entire playoff series. Brown played four garbage time minutes in Game 1, while Harrell hasn’t seen the light of day behind Clint Capela (on the bench but not laughing) and Nene (on the floor).
Even in a loss, Russ finds a way to win.