With the Rockets and Thunder preparing for a pivotal Game 4 on Monday, Houston is attempting to rebound from an overtime loss on Saturday that saw the team fail to take a 3-0 series lead over the Thunder.
Instead, Houston will carry a 2-1 series lead into the contest.
Since straining his right quad in Houston’s penultimate game of the regular season, Westbrook has been missing in action. While there are positive updates on his progress, the former MVP has missed each of the first three playoff games against the only franchise he knew before last summer’s trade.
Without Westbrook in the lineup, the Rockets are far from full strength but have been able to dominate the Thunder in spurts. It took some late heroics, a critical turnover and a big three-point shot by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but the Thunder managed to stay alive by winning Game 3.
Now, they can pull even in the series if they win Game 4, and fortunately for the Thunder, they won’t be seeing Westbrook then, either.
No changes to the Rockets injury report. Russell Westbrook, Luc Mbah a Moute are out. No one on the OKC report.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) August 23, 2020
According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni provided an update on Westbrook and didn’t make it sound like the guard would be returning to the lineup anytime soon, though that could obviously change.
Rockets guard Russell Westbrook on Sunday again stepped up his workouts in his rehab from a strained right quadriceps muscle, but that was the only change in his efforts to play in the first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Westbrook was ruled out for Monday’s Game 4 with the Rockets still unable to estimate a timetable for when he will play.
“I don’t have a better idea (about when Westbrook will be cleared to play,)” D’Antoni said. “He’s doing great and working hard. It feels like it’s getting closer, whatever that means. We really don’t know. He’s living in the training room and he’s doing his exercises. He’s putting a lot of movement into it now to where he can get to 100 percent.”
Game 4 will tip off at 3:00 p.m. CT on Monday. The Rockets will also be without Luc Mbah a Moute, while the Thunder are expected to be at full strength.
