Russell Westbrook: I Heard Horn Before Going on Court in Game 4 Skirmish

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook offered an explanation for why he stepped on the floor while standing at the scorer's table during his team's 113-96 Game 4 loss to the Utah Jazz on Monday evening.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Westbrook said he heard the horn sound and checked into the game before he walked over to Jazz center Rudy Gobert and swiped at his arm. 

"I definitely remember the play," he said. "I was at the scorer's table waiting, the foul went, the horn blew, so I walked on the court. I was already in the game. Once I was in the game they told me to wait because they were going to review it or whatever. And then once they did that, obviously the altercation happened."  

According to KSL.com's Andy Larsen, officials were instructed not to discuss the matter after Monday night's game because it is being "reviewed by the league's disciplinary committee." If the league deems Westbrook entered the court without the officials' permission, and instead did so of his own accord, he could be suspended for Game 5. 

The sequence in question can be viewed below: 

Russ Could Get Suspended for This?

Needless to say, the Thunder can't afford a setback at this stage in the series. 

They're already facing a 3-1 deficit, and their offense has averaged a paltry 97.7 points per game over the past three games, all of which have been Jazz wins. 

Now the focus will shift to Game 5, where the Thunder—with or without the defending MVP—will try and save their season back at Chesapeake Energy Arena.