Pelicans' Allen thinks Westbrook flopped after Cousins elbow
Tony Allen believes Russell Westbrook exaggerated the contact made by DeMarcus Cousins' elbow Monday night, which sent the New Orleans Pelicans big man to the locker room after being assessed a flagrant-2 foul.
"I definitely think he flopped," said Allen afterward, according to The Norman Transcript's Fred Katz. "He took advantage of Cousins' history. He was going to get the best of that call ... You saw him get right back up and miss the free throw. He missed it, so you know what that means. The ball don't lie."
Cousins' history as somewhat of a loose cannon has been well-documented. This was his first flagrant and ejection of the 2017-18 regular season, and just the second flagrant-2 foul league-wide. Oklahoma City Thunder star Carmelo Anthony picked one up Nov. 5 for elbowing Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic in the face while attacking the basket.
Cousins exited New Orleans' 114-107 win with 18 points on 7-of-17 shooting, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block in 26 minutes.