After missing Tuesday’s victory over Charlotte due to a sprained left thumb, All-Star guard Russell Westbrook could return to the Houston Rockets’ lineup in time for Thursday night’s showdown at Los Angeles.
In the team’s official injury report issued late Wednesday, Westbrook was listed as questionable due to the thumb injury. That’s an upgrade from his “doubtful” status prior to Tuesday, and since there’s no mention of rest, it does not appear that Thursday is one of his scheduled rest games.
In 35.9 minutes per game this season, Westbrook is averaging 26.4 points (45.4% shooting), 8.0 rebounds, and 7.4 assists with the Rockets.
Westbrook sprained the thumb on his non-dominant hand during Sunday’s game against New Orleans. Speaking postgame, he said a Pelicans player accidentally swiped at it while going for the basketball.
Westbrook had the thumb heavily bandaged immediately after Sunday’s game. But at Monday’s practice and during Tuesday’s game, which the former MVP watched from the bench, there was no sign of a wrap or brace — which would seem to indicate that the issue is minor.
Head coach Mike D’Antoni indicated Tuesday that Westbrook would sit out one game of the upcoming back-to-back in Los Angeles and Phoenix on Thursday and Friday, but for reasons unrelated to his left thumb. That’s part of the 31-year-old’s season-long maintenance plan after undergoing offseason knee surgery.
When asked which game Westbrook would play in, D’Antoni told reporters with a sarcastic tone:
You could probably take a wild guess.
That would certainly appear to be a clue that the team’s plan, at least as of Tuesday, was for Westbrook to play.
Westbrook is a Los Angeles native, and Thursday’s game against the Lakers (38-11) offers an opportunity for the Rockets (32-18) to measure themselves on national television against the Western Conference’s premiere team to this point in the 2019-20 season.
Houston enters Thursday having won six of its last eight games. Tip-off from Staples Center is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Central time, with the game broadcast as a national exclusive on TNT.
