Kobe backs Westbrook after 'silly' question over chasing assists

The legendary Black Mamba is squarely in the corner of Russell Westbrook after the Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star was seemingly accused of dime-hunting Friday night in a 21-point loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Westbrook fell two assists short of locking in a record-setting 42nd triple-double of the season, and prioritized moving the ball late in the fourth quarter with the end result no longer in doubt and his shot not cooperating.

When asked after the game if he was deliberately passing up open looks to break the triple-double record, Westbrook said he was trying to get his teammates involved and to muster up offense - nothing more.

Such a question was labeled "silly" by Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant, who took to his Twitter account early Saturday to voice his displeasure with Westbrook being asked such a thing.

Related - Watch: Russ deliberately looks for assists, but comes up short of triple-double

Westbrook finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists in 36 minutes of action. He entered the night needing six dimes to clinch a triple-double average for 2016-17, and will end the campaign as the second player in NBA history to average the feat.