Russell Westbrook avoids suspension after 16th technical rescinded

Oklahoma City’s playoff situation is still dire, but not quite as dire as it seemed Sunday.

The NBA sent out an email Monday morning rescinding the technical foul called on Thunder star Russell Westbrook during the team’s 116-104 loss to Indiana the previous night. The league did not offer an explanation for changing the call.

Had the technical foul stood, it would have been Westbrook’s 16th, which is the league limit. The penalty is an automatic one-game suspension, meaning the Thunder would have had to play a crucial game against Portland without the NBA’s leading scorer.

With two games left each, Oklahoma City and New Orleans are tied for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot. The Pelicans hold the tiebreaker.

Westbrook was called for the technical foul after arguing a call with an official with 5:57 left in the game. He finished the game with a career-high 54 points.

This is the second time this season Westbrook has had a technical call rescinded.