Russell Westbrook left the arena following the Los Angeles Lakers' 122-115 loss to the Brooklyn Nets without speaking to reporters. Westbrook shot just 4-for-20 from the field and had a notable defensive lapse that led to a Patty Mills three-pointer in crunch time.
LeBron James backed Westbrook in his comments to the media.
"He gave us extra possessions, he gave us a lot of looks around the basket, which I know that he can't stand [failing to convert] as well," James said. "But as far as the effort piece, if a guy plays hard, if a guy leaves it all out on the floor, I got no problem with that. It's a make-or-miss league."
David Fizdale was also supportive of Westbrook.
"A big part of it is he just wants it so bad," Fizdale said. "I mean, you can just see it in him, everybody does. He wants it so bad. And I know that's just hard for him when it doesn't work out. And I know he cares like crazy.
"I just want him to take a lot of that pressure off himself, keep attacking, keep playing the way we know he can."