NBA rescinds Westbrook's 16th technical; no suspension for Russ

The Oklahoma City Thunder won't have to continue their playoff chase without Russell Westbrook, after all.

The NBA announced Monday that Westbrook's technical foul in Sunday's loss to the Indiana Pacers - his 16th tech of the season - has been rescinded.

Westbrook would have been facing a one-game suspension had the technical been upheld, but will now be available to play against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.

The MVP candidate was called for a defensive foul as he got hung up on a screen midway through the fourth quarter of Sunday's game, and picked up the tech while arguing the call with referee Ed Malloy.

Westbrook, who leads the league in technical fouls, also had a tech rescinded after a game against the Phoenix Suns on March 29.

At 43-37, the Thunder enter the week tied for the Western Conference's eighth and final playoff spot with the New Orleans Pelicans. However, due to the Pelicans owning the season-series tiebreaker, Oklahoma City will have to outdo New Orleans over the final two games of the season to get into the postseason.