As if getting blown out by the Knicks wasn't enough, Russell Westbrook's wallet is also taking a significant loss.
The NBA has fined the Denver Nuggets guard $35,000 for what they called an "obscene gesture" during the team's 145-118 loss to New York on Monday night, the league announced.
The incident occurred midway through the fourth quarter — a frame that saw the guard go on a historic 24-point scoring tear. After drilling a three-pointer from the left corner, Westbrook turned towards the Knicks bench and showed them the middle finger.
In the game, Knicks guard OG Anunoby scored a career-high 40 points and Jalen Brunson had 23 points and 17 of New York’s team record-tying 45 assists as the Knicks rode a torrid start.
The former MVP has been a solid presence off the bench for Denver this season, averaging 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 24.6 minutes per game. In his last five games, he's upped those numbers to 14.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists while hitting 44.0 per cent of his three-pointers.
Westbrook, 36, has received two technical foul fines this season, each worth $2,000, bringing his total amount in fines this year to $39,000. In total, the NBA has handed out $1.77 million in fines this season, per Spotrac.
Denver is currently 10-7 and sits in seventh in the Western Conference.
-- With files from the Associated Press
COMMENTS
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.