Russell Westbrook Downplays Awkward Display on Rockets Bench at End of OKC Return Via Instagram

On a night in which a potential Eastern Conference Final preview between the Celtics and 76ers was the main event in terms of the on-court product itself, Russell Westbrook's return to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder ended up capturing the bulk of the headlines.

The former MVP admitted he was emotional on his return to Chesapeake Energy Arena, but later in the game when his Rockets were trailing by a notable margin. Russ reverted back to his old self. He was seen stewing on the sideline and opting not to join his teammates in the timeout huddle, and ESPN noticed, capturing the moment on Instagram.

Russ does not concur.

The Rockets found the new-look Oklahoma City Thunder a nuisance all game long, as they were unable to capture any lead and were down 26 points early in the fourth quarter despite Westbrook getting a hot hand and scoring 34 points.

Westbrook is known for his fiery personality and competitiveness. He's the wrong guy to inflame on the court. There is evidence of similar bench behavior dating back to a fit of anger against the Grizzles in 2013 in which he slapped a towel bucket and headed to the locker room after being taken out of the game. It's just his particular edge.

Russ was keen to show his love for OKC in the postgame press conference, saying "I felt like I was home" and praising the entirety organization, from general manager Sam Presti to the stadium staff.

The Rockets remain fourth in the Western Conference with Westbrook averaging 24.4 points and 6.9 assists so far this season.