Russell Westbrook laughs off question about Steph Curry’s defense
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All Russell Westbrook could do was laugh when asked whether he thought Warriors guard Stephen Curry was an underrated defender.
With Westbrook left giggling during the post-game press conference after the Warriors’ 120–111 Game 5 win on Thursday, Kevin Durant responded to the question instead.
“He’s pretty good, but he doesn’t guard the other best point guards,” Durant said, according to ESPN. “I think they do a good job of putting a couple of guys on Russell from [Klay] Thompson to [Andre] Iguodala, and Steph, they throw him in there sometimes. He moves his feet pretty well. He’s good with his hands.
“But, you know, I like our matchup with him guarding Russ.”
• GOLLIVER: Stephen Curry, Warriors go big to save season against Thunder
Westbrook has committed seven turnovers and is shooting 8 for 25 (32%) when Curry has guarded him during the Western Conference Finals, according to ESPN Stats & Info. He has been shooting 41.3% from the field throughout the series and is averaging 28 points and 4.6 turnovers per game.
Curry had five steals on Thursday night amid his 31-point performance that helped the Warriors avoid elimination.
Westbrook downplayed Curry’s talent earlier this month when he called the NBA MVP “nothing I haven’t seen.”
The Thunder will host the Warriors for Game 6 on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET.
