PHILADELPHIA — Russell Westbrook’s frustration kept escalating. As Wednesday’s elimination game for Washington dragged on, the Wizards guard repeatedly scowled, yelled and jumped up and down in fits of rage. An outburst after a shove on Danny Green here. A tirade after hacking Ben Simmons there.
There were plenty of reasons for Westbrook to be mad. But none more so than the reality that gradually set in over the course of Philadelphia’s 129-112 win: The Wizards season was about to be over. And there was little Westbrook could do to stop it.
Despite 32 points from Bradley Beal and another 24 from Westbrook, the Wizards were officially eliminated from the playoffs Wednesday, losing their first-round, best-of-seven series to Philadelphia, four games to one.