By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After Russell Westbrook and Paul George accused Zaza Pachulia of deliberately trying to hurt the 2017 NBA MVP during Saturday’s game between the Golden State Warriors and the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant came to the defense of his teammate.
“I don’t think Zaza is trying to hurt anybody. He is clumsy. A lot of big guys are,” Durant said per Mercury News’ Mark Medina.
With two minutes remaining in the third quarter of the game, Westbrook drove for a layup, missed and then ended up on the floor after he attempted to grab the offensive rebound between Pachulia and Nick Young. The Georgian center then fell on Westbrook’s knee in an act that was called “obviously intentional” by Russ.
Pachulia characterized Westbrook’s comments as “childish” while Paul George also said that “He (Pachulia) aimed where he was going to fall. That’s Zaza making a Zaza play”.
Durant, who got injured almost a year ago after Pachulia awkwardly fell backward on his left leg during a game vs.the Washington Wizards, said that Young’s foot was caught up with Zaza’s leg and that’s why Zaza landed on Westbrook.
“But I watched the tape. I’ve seen Nick’s foot get caught up with Zaza’s leg, and it might have tripped him up a bit. I don’t think he was trying to hurt Russ. But it did look to the fans’ view and I’m sure to them, it looked kind of like a weird play. I slowed it down, and I saw some clips and pictures everywhere that Nick’s leg got caught up in Zaza’s leg. I don’t think he was trying to hurt him at all. It was an unfortunate play, and I’m glad Russ didn’t get hurt from it.”
Kevin Durant stands up for Zaza Pachulia regarding fall on Westbrook. Durant watched replay and argued Nick Young accidentally hooked Zaza’s leg pic.twitter.com/wU0TZ6OSbb
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) February 26, 2018