Stephen A. Smith claims Russell Westbrook should have been suspended for 'INEXCUSABLE' Game 3 behavior, as ESPN personality reveals he called NBA for an explanation

Stephen A. Smith has claimed Russell Westbrook should have suspended for his 'inexcusable' behavior in Game 3 vs. the Mavericks, after the Clippers guard was involved in a number of controversial incidents.

Westbrook was ejected from the game after shoving Dallas' Luka Doncic and PJ Washington. That scuffle started after Westbrook awkwardly yanked on the arm of Doncic during a foul, and he also slapped Josh Green's head in a hard foul earlier in the game, which was ruled a flagrant.

For those reasons, Smith said Sunday that Westbrook shouldn't have been able to participate in Game 4, which LA narrowly won.  

'I don't know why this isn't being talked about enough,' Smith began on ESPN.

'I was of the mindset that Russell Westbrook deserved to be suspended for today's game. That's how appalling his game [three] was."

Smith said that Westbrook's arm-pull of Doncic 'could've separated his shoulder,' and said he was so disappointed in how the one-time MVP handled himself.

Smith also revealed that he even called the NBA's league office to request an explanation for why Westbrook was not suspended.

The league apparently told him that the two technical fouls and one flagrant he was assessed - along with the ejection - were taken into account, as was the fact that no one was injured by his actions.

However, Smith noted that the NBA said a suspension may have occurred had the same actions occurred in the regular season.

Still, the ESPN analyst had some praise for how Westbrook has helped the Clippers since he signed there last year.' 

'He's been a godsend for the Clippers as far as I'm concerned. He's an energizer bunny. 

Westbrook had five points, three rebounds and two steals in 22 minutes for the Clippers as they beat the Mavs 116-111 in Game 4.