Kevin Durant, Chris Paul Shower Russell Westbrook With Praise After Valiant Game 4 Effort

• Phoenix Suns veterans Kevin Durant and Chris Paul have defended Los Angeles Clippers star Russell Westbrook from critics
• Westbrook was on fire in game 4 vs. the Suns, scoring 37 points but couldn't help the Clippers win
• The Clippers are now 3-1 down and play a do-or-die Game 5 on Tuesday

The Los Angeles Clippers are on the verge of getting eliminated from the playoffs after losing 100-112 to the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 of the first round.

Russell Westbrook produced another spectacular performance but couldn't lift his team past the Suns. Suns veterans Chris Paul and Kevin Durant have hailed Westbrook for his performance.

The 2017 MVP did almost everything for the Clippers. He scored 14 of his 37 points in the final 10 minutes of the game but fell short. With Kawhi Leonard and Paul George out with injuries, the Clippers' hopes are now on Westbrook's shoulders ahead of Game 5 in Phoenix on Tuesday.

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After the Lakers dealt Westbrook to the Utah Jazz before the trade deadline, things looked bleak for the 9x All-Star. However, has been reborn after signing with the Clippers. He made an impact in Game 1 despite shooting 3-for-19 and scoring only nine points. 

In Game 4, he went 17-of-29 from the floor, including 3-of-6 from deep.

Durant and Paul praise Westbrook

The Suns' big three, Durant, Paul, and Devin Booker, combined for 80 points, per USA Today.

Durant said Westbrook will be appreciated more when he retires, per ESPN.

"When he retires, people are going to really tell the truth about his game," Durant said. "Right now, the fun thing to do is to make a joke out of Russ. But the way he's been playing since he got with the Clippers is showing everybody who he really is."

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Paul echoed Durant's words.

"I feel like the only people who do [criticize Westbrook] are people who don't really know basketball and what it means to compete," Paul said. "Russ is one of my closest friends. People who do that and talk crazy [about him] probably wish they were in that situation."

Westbrook said that without Leonard and George, the team has to step up.

"Next-man-up mentality, and we've just got to make sure we rally around each other, keep competing and leave it on the floor, and that's all you can do."

Westbrook on his relationship with Durant

Sports Brief earlier reported on Westbrook addressing his relationship with Durant, which deteriorated when the Suns' Star.

Westbrook was not happy with Durant after he left the Oklahoma City Thunder in 20916 to join Stephen Curry in Golden State. Westbrook said there's no beef.

"It will be normal for me. I think people still think like there's some beef or something. There's no beef of any [kind], so I think that's the good narrative for media, for people to talk about.