One reunion alley-oop can't heal Westbrook-Durant split

ByROYCE YOUNG
February 19, 2017, 11:32 PM

— -- NEW ORLEANS -- Some 45 minutes before showtime, 11 Western Conference All-Stars warmed up on one end of the floor, while Russell Westbrook stood alone on the other side, shooting free throws.

Westbrook has always despised crowds, deliberately standing in place to wait for media to move out of the way in scrums, or going out of his way to avoid any congestion with fans. He always shoots on his own basket -- the same one, by himself -- after practices and shootarounds at the Oklahoma City Thunder's practice facility.

But with so much focus and attention on how Westbrook interacted with Kevin Durant as they reunited as teammates Sunday, it was a striking image. Eventually, a different former teammate, James Harden, joined Westbrook, and the two, who have spent most of the weekend together, warmed up, laughing, joking and gesturing throughout.

The pregame scene was just another in a weekend full of them showcasing the tension between Westbrook and Durant. At the Saturday "practice" -- loose quotes at that -- as the Western All-Stars were announced, they gathered at midcourt, each player running through the line dapping each other up. Durant was the second player out, behind Stephen Curry, and as Westbrook had his name called a few players after, Durant was sitting back on a table by himself as Westbrook ran out. The feeling in the practice locker room was described as "painfully quiet and uncomfortable." In the subsequent mixed-zone media availability, Durant walked by Westbrook as the two appeared to strain so as not to make eye contact.

It all set up the game itself, where questions of whether Westbrook would even pass to Durant were legitimate. As Westbrook made his way to check in about midway through the opening quarter, the building buzzed. It took only about a minute before Westbrook gave Durant the eyes.

Durant made a cut across the lane, Westbrook fired a pass his way, cut behind it and Durant lobbed it up for a Westbrook dunk. "He was open, so I threw him the lob," Durant told sideline reporter David Aldridge at the half. A timeout was called shortly after, and as the two made their way to the bench, led by DeAndre Jordan, DeMarcus Cousins and Draymond Green, a mock cheer broke out. Someone threw water on Durant. It was clear: The ice appeared to have been broken. The awkwardness was real and felt by everyone around All-Star Weekend, nobody more so than the players.