National Basketball Association

Russell Westbrook kicks Kentavious Caldwell-Pope while taking a jump shot

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:43 p.m. ET

Nunzio Ingrassia

Russell Westbrook didn’t take his foot off the gas in the first half Monday night against the Pistons. In fact, the Oklahoma City Thunder star used his foot for another purpose in the second quarter.

As Westbrook went up for a jump shot, Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope reached in to try to disrupt his rhythm. This turned out to be a very bad idea for Caldwell-Pope, who was on the receiving end of a kick by Westbrook to his groin.

Now, did Westbrook do that on purpose? Proabbly not, but he was still assessed a technical foul for his shot below the belt.

But if that wasn’t painful enough, Westbrook torched the Pistons for 25 points before halftime. At least Detroit had a 59-47 lead at the break.