NBA Playoffs: Russell Westbrook wants “fk s-t up”

Russell Westbrook may not be his triple double MVP self, but on Saturday night he turned his watch.

Westbrook hit a key three-pointer late in the regulation, saving the game in 10 seconds of overtime when he forced the Denver Nuggets to give a 112-110 victory in Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs against the former Los Angeles Clippers.

Westbrook does everything he does for his Hall of Fame resume. The 36-year-old is nine All-Stars, MVP, two scoring champions and three assist leaders, and averaged four triple-doubles.

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Except for winning the title.

However, his mentality, and his self-proclaimed job description, could help him check that final box.

“My job is tolerating my language, f-ks-t up,” he said after the contest.

MVP candidate Nikola Zhokic lost Denver after Westbrook hit a 3-pointer corner to give him a two-point lead late in regulation, killing Denver in 9.6 seconds in the win-win-win of overtime in Denver.

The Denver Nuggets respond after Russell Westbrook (4) worked overtime against the LA Clippers at the Ball Arena, and he responded to his defensive departure. (Image of Ron Chenoy-Immagn)

The Pacers pass the Bucks, 117-98, taking a 1-0 lead in the first round playoff series

“Russ is Russ,” interim coach David Adelman said after improving 4-0. “Defensively, he's absolutely incredible. He was playing free safety there, and even if he wasn't forcing it, I thought up a lot of the reasons why the turnover happened.

“And offensively… he attacked,” Adelman said. “We might have pulled it out and executed it, but that's what Russ does. I don't think he'll change in 17 years. If he sees someone one-on-one, he'll attack. And he made a huge three.”

Jokic scored 29 points and finished one triple double rebound shy. Aaron Gordon added 25 points and Jamal Murray 21. The Nuggets have overcome a 15-point first-half deficit and have passed the hottest teams to enter the playoffs.

The loss of the No. 5 seed Clippers was the first in Cleveland since March 30th. They were caught in the playoffs, which earned 18 of the 21, including the last eight.

Russell Westbrook #4 of the Denver Nuggets will celebrate during the Round One Game at one of the 2025 NBA playoffs held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on April 19, 2025. (Garrett Elwood/nbae via Getty Images)

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Game 2 was a Monday night in Denver, firing Michael Malone less than two years after winning the title, making a shocking move a week before the playoffs began.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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