2013 Playoff Collision and Meniscus Tear

On April 24, 2013, in Game 2 of the Western Conference first-round series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets, Russell Westbrook brought the ball toward the sideline intending to call a timeout. As he stopped, Rockets guard Patrick Beverley lunged to swipe for a steal, and his hip struck Westbrook’s right knee [3]. ESPN’s game recap captured the sequence: “Beverley lunged for a steal as Westbrook stopped to call a timeout ... with his hip slamming into Westbrook's right knee” [3]. Visibly upset, Westbrook hammered his right hand on the scorer’s table in anger. Later in the half, when Beverley reached to help him up, Westbrook slapped Beverley’s hand away, a rare display that underscored immediate frustration [3]. Westbrook finished the game, and Oklahoma City won 105–102 to take a 2–0 series lead [3]. However, the collision had consequences beyond the final score. On April 26, 2013, the Associated Press reported that the Thunder announced Westbrook had torn the lateral meniscus in his right knee and would have surgery, placing him out indefinitely for the remainder of the postseason: “Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook will undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and be out indefinitely” [4]. The AP further described the moment: “Rookie Patrick Beverley lunged into him trying for a steal in the second quarter and his hip collided with Westbrook’s knee” [4]. The on-court moment—occurring at a procedural timeout point where players often relax—ignited debate about etiquette around dead balls and the risks of boundary-pushing defense. It also forged a lasting personal history between Westbrook and Beverley that would reverberate through subsequent seasons [3][4].

This collision is the origin point of the Westbrook–Beverley feud. The play itself happened at a timeout juncture, challenging norms around dead-ball safety and sparking a long-running debate about Beverley’s ultra-aggressive style versus player protection [3]. The outcome—a confirmed torn lateral meniscus and immediate surgery—directly affected Westbrook’s postseason and framed future encounters with Beverley through the lens of health risk and respect [4]. Every later dust-up, from after-timeout swipes to low, diving contests, echoed this moment and amplified questions about where hard-nosed defense ends and dangerous play begins [3][4].

Following the April 26, 2013 announcement, Westbrook missed the remainder of the playoffs after undergoing surgery on his right knee [4]. The Thunder, who had title aspirations, proceeded without their All-NBA point guard. Interpersonally, the incident established a tense baseline between Westbrook and Beverley. When the teams met again on March 11, 2014, Beverley swiped at Westbrook after a timeout, had to be separated, and received a technical—an unmistakable callback to the 2013 sequence [2]. The 2013 collision thus became a reference point for referees, media, and players whenever Westbrook and Beverley shared the floor, influencing the tone of later confrontations, including the 2018 flagrant and 2019 verbal sparring [5][1].