Rockets guard Russell Westbrook is likely to sit out Saturday night’s game in Minnesota, Houston head coach Mike D’Antoni said in his pregame press conference Friday night at Toyota Center.
Heading into Friday’s home game versus Indiana, which he started, the eight-time NBA All-Star and former Most Valuable Player (MVP) was averaging 21.1 points (45.7% shooting), 7.1 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in 32.6 minutes per game with the Rockets this season.
The Rockets are being cautious early in the season with the 31-year-old Westbrook, who missed time early in training camp and the preseason after undergoing a knee procedure in the offseason.
D’Antoni announced the news shortly before Friday’s game. Shortly after that game goes final, the team will fly to Minnesota for Saturday night’s game against the Timberwolves.
This is the second of 11 back-to-backs for Houston this season. In the first one, the Rockets also played Westbrook on the front end (Nov. 3 in Miami) before sitting him on the back end (Nov. 4 in Memphis).
The Rockets are short-handed for the time being, and Westbrook’s absence would compound the issue. Starting center Clint Capela (concussion) is likely out for both games of the back-to-back, while forward Danuel House Jr. is out Friday and questionable for Saturday with a bruised back. Reserve guard Eric Gordon is out for six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his knee on Wednesday.
Given the wave of injuries and Westbrook’s likely absence for planned maintenance, D’Antoni said young players such as Isaiah Hartenstein and Gary Clark are likely to play in the back-to-back.
