Oklahoma City Thunder: Russell Westbrook Scores Career-High 54 Points, Could Sit out One Game

The Oklahoma City Thunder's hopes of making it to the playoffs are dwindling every day.

Without Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka, who are out with injuries, the bulk of the work has been placed solely on point guard Russell Westbrook and although Westbrook has definitely stepped up his game, his temper might be costing the Thunder a real chance to make it to the playoffs.

In Sunday night's game against the Indiana Pacers, Westbrook scored a career-high 54 points and almost recorded his 12th triple-double of the season. Westbrook ended up shooting 21-for-43. The 43 shots was also a career-high for Westbrook.

"I don't really give a damn what nobody thinks, to tell you the truth, man," Westbrook said when asked if he thought he took too many shots from the field. "I really don't care. Every night I go out and compete harder than anybody else in this league and I'm proud of coming out and my teammates don't have problem with it. I'm good with that."

Despite his impressive offense, the Thunder still lost to the Pacers 116-104. Not only did the Thunder fail to capitalize after the New Orleans Pelicans lost 121-114 to the Houston Rockets, they might also be playing without Westbrook on Monday.

Westbrook picked up his 16th technical foul from referee Ed Malloy. The technical was given after Westbrook tried to argue a foul called against him for attempting to fight through a screen. The reigning NBA MVP, Durant, did not like the call, commenting on it immediately via Twitter.

"I ain't got no view on it," Westbrook told reporters after the game. "He called it and we'll move on from it."

According to the NBA rules, players with that many technical fouls must sit out one game. All technical fouls are reviewed after the game and Thunder coach Scott Brooks seemed hopeful that Westbrook would be playing in Monday's game.

"I'm pretty confident this one will be rescinded. That's not my decision, but I feel confident about it," Brooks said.

The Thunder (43-37) are currently sitting right outside of playoff contention in ninth place. They are hosting the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.