Kevin Durant defended the reputation of Russell Westbrook following the Phoenix Suns' Game 4 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Westbrook scored 37 points for the Clippers as they played without both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

"People going to always criticize when you're successful and doing your thing for this long," Durant said of Westbrook. "Russ has been resilient his whole life. He comes to work, doesn't say much. Just come hoop."

Durant said he believes that people will not truly appreciate Westbrook until he is done playing.

"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."