The Thunder pulled to within one game of the Rockets in their first round series with a 115-113 win in Oklahoma City on Friday night behind another triple-double from Russell Westbrook. After the game, as the Rockets were leaving the floor, Patrick Beverley and an Oklahoma City fan had a confrontation that featured the fan getting heated and Beverley not backing down from his stance.
Here is a small GIF of the live video between the fan and Patrick Beverley post game pic.twitter.com/4ZGkYvOx5c
— x – Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) April 22, 2017
That has led the NBA, at the request of the Rockets, to launch an investigation into what happened, which started back in the first half when Beverley was knocked to the ground after a layup attempt. Beverley got up and immediately complained to officials about the fan and after the game returned to have a conversation with the fan in question.
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It’s clear from the video that something was said by the fan that Beverley didn’t like, as he turned around and pointed out the fan and had some words with him before being pulled away by Nene. Beverley was still upset about the incident after the game, but nothing ever turned physical. Beverley would not comment on the incident before Saturday’s practice, but said he would speak on it once the NBA’s investigation concluded.
“The Rockets are taking care of the situation,” Beverley told ESPN. “I’ll talk after the investigation is done.”
Officials at Chesapeake Energy Arena told ESPN they were aware of the incident but had not yet been reached by the league for any video or information, but would cooperate fully with the investigation.
