Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook limped out of Wednesday’s blowout home win over Golden State after appearing to bump knees in the fourth quarter with Warriors forward Eric Paschall.
But moving forward, the 30-year-old doesn’t seem be that concerned about it. “Nothing happened, nothing happened,” Westbrook said in his postgame interview with reporters.
However, when asked if he banged his knee, Westbrook nodded.
The 6-foot-3 guard had 18 points (8-of-18 shooting), eight rebounds, and six assists in the victory, and his plus/minus figure of +40 in 30 minutes played was by far the best of any player on the Rockets’ roster. Westbrook appeared especially explosive Wednesday after sitting out Houston’s prior game Monday for planned maintenance amid the team’s first of 11 back-to-back game sequences this season.
Westbrook didn’t return to the game after limping off, but there was no real incentive for head coach Mike D’Antoni to put him back in, since Houston had a comfortable lead for the entire fourth quarter.
Through seven games with the Rockets after his offseason trade from Oklahoma City, Westbrook is averaging 20.7 points (45.8% shooting), 9.6 rebounds, and 8.7 assists in 32.7 minutes per game.
The Rockets do not play again until Saturday night in Chicago. Based on that extended break between games, the team did not practice Thursday — which offered Westbrook a chance to rest his knee.
The Rockets will practice Friday morning in Houston before flying to Chicago in the afternoon. If there are any lingering effects from the incident, that’s when the Rockets will issue their next medical report.
Also in the backcourt, fellow guard Eric Gordon missed Wednesday’s game with left hamstring soreness. Gordon said he hopes his absence will only be for one game, but whether he’s cleared for practice Friday will likely dictate whether he’s a realistic option for Saturday.
