Clippers star Russell Westbrook gets into angry clash with Suns fan halfway through Game 1

Russell Westbrook angrily confronted a fan during half time before his LA Clippers side claimed victory in Game 1 against the Phoenix Suns at the Footprint Arena. 

The nine-time All-Star was seen squaring up to a man in a Suns polo shirt and hat as he made his way back onto the court after the break. 

It is not known what the man said to the player to spark the argument, but as Westbrook leant down speak to him, he rose to meet the player on his level. 

A security guard stood his ground between the pair, but he was unable to stop the words that flew between the two men, with Westbrook audibly telling the spectator to ‘watch your mouth’. 

He retorts that Westbrook should take his comments ‘like a man’ before Westbrook snapped back: ‘watch your mouth, motherf*****!’

Rusell Westbrook was involved in an angry confrontation with a Suns fan during Game 1 of the Clippers’ play-offs campaign

The nine-time All-Star was visibly vexed before he headed through the tunnel back onto court

In front of the pair, a child turned to watch Westbrook being kept back from his antagoniser, and as the player made his retreat, voices watching the drama unfold said ‘talk about it, be about’, and ‘that’s the man, Westbrook’s the man’. 

In a statement offered by the Phoenix Suns after the game, the team said: ‘We are aware of the incident that happened tonight, and are conducting a review.’

The altercation is said to have taken place in a lounge area just off the court that doubles as a shortcut from the court to the visiting locker room.  

The point guard, who made the move to the Los Angeles outfit in February 2023, had mixed start to the opening game of the Clippers’ play-offs campaign. 

Despite a strong showing defensively, Westbrook only made 3-of-19 shots from the field, finishing with nine points.   

But the player came in clutch to swipe the victory from the home side as the clock ran down, converting two vital free throws in the final minute. 

His late frustration of Suns shooting guard Devin Booker sealed victory for the visitors as Westbrook pulled off a ferocious block of Booker’s final charge towards the basket. 

The point guard stepped up to block Booker’s last-gasp attempt to keep hold of the tie

Westbrook struggled with shooting from the field but pulled off defensive heroics to put the Clippers ahead after Game 1

The game saw Westbrook face off against his former Oklahoma Thunder team-mate Kevin Durant after the Nets traded the player to the Suns in February

After the game, Westbrook said he would be willing to do anything to win his first NBA Championship. 

‘My whole career, I pride myself every season on doing everything,’ Westbrook said.

‘Whatever is needed of me to win the game, I’ll do it.’ 

The Clippers and the Suns will play Game 2 in Phoenix on Tuesday, before the series shifts to the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles for the Games 3 and 4.