The Denver Nuggets will be on the road on Tuesday night for Game 5 of their second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Tuesday’s game is a crucial one for both teams with the series tied 2-2 as both squads look to take complete control of the series.
Of course, the Nuggets have played well thus far despite the shooting struggles from their superstar center Nikola Jokic as the supporting cast around him has stepped up huge during their playoff run.
Denver Nuggets stars Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook
Denver Nuggets stars Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook
Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
One of those players is Russell Westbrook, who put together multiple great performances in the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers despite missing a game in the series due to a foot injury.
Westbrook has continued to play a key role off the bench for Denver in their series against the Thunder but one of his teammates has not been impressed by his attitude thus far.
Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) moves the ball up court against the Clippers.
Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) moves the ball up court against the Clippers.
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, an anonymous Nuggets player took a shot at Westbrook during their first-round series by calling him immature.
“Minutes after the Nuggets lost Game 2 of their first-round series against the Clippers, (David) Adelman had a problem. While he'd been at the postgame lectern, there'd been a heated discussion between Westbrook and (Aaron) Gordon in the locker room, multiple sources told ESPN,” Shelburne wrote. “Gordon had challenged Westbrook about his attitude. Outside the locker room, one player relayed why Gordon might've done so. ‘He's so immature,’ he said of Westbrook.”
This is an interesting report by Shelburne and one that could cause major problems in the Nuggets locker room for the remainder of their second-round series.
Westbrook has played a key role down the stretch for the Nuggets but it is clear that at least one of his teammates does not care too much for his attitude despite his solid play.
Denver will look to put this report behind them on Tuesday night in a crucial Game 5 against Oklahoma City on the road where they will need their core to continue to play well as they try to take control of the series with a victory.