Durant: Pachulia isn't trying to hurt anybody, just 'clumsy'

After multiple members of the Oklahoma City Thunder accused Golden State Warriors center Zaza Pachulia of deliberately falling on Russell Westbrook's legs during Saturday night's game, Warriors forward Kevin Durant spoke up in defense of his teammate.

"I don't think Zaza's trying to hurt anybody," Durant told reporters Sunday, per The Athletic's Anthony Slater. "He is clumsy, as a lot of big guys are. But I watched the tape."

After carefully considering the footage, Durant believes Pachulia was inadvertently yanked down atop Westbrook by Warriors guard Nick Young.

"I watched the tape," Durant said. "I seen Nick's foot get caught up in Zaza's leg, it might've tripped him up a bit. I don't think he's trying to hurt Russ. It did look - to the fans, to you, and I'm sure to (Westbrook) - it looked kinda like a weird play. But I slowed it down, and I've seen clips, pictures everywhere that (show) Nick's foot got caught up in Zaza's leg. It was an unfortunate play, I'm glad Russ didn't get hurt from it."

It's difficult for others to give Pachulia the benefit of the doubt, considering he was also involved in the play that knocked San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard out of the Western Conference finals last year and effectively gift-wrapped the series for Golden State.

Durant knows as well as anyone about Pachulia's clumsiness - he suffered a sprained MCL last year when Pachulia fell backward into his knee - but he doesn't think the previous incidents should be held against Pachulia.

"What happened with San Antonio, the same play happened the next night on one of us," Durant said. "That just happens in basketball. I don't think Zaza's out there trying to hurt anybody, he loves the game too much and respects the game too much to do that."