With Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni effectively ruling Russell Westbrook out for Game 1 of the team’s first round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, there has been a consistent chorus of questions surrounding the former MVP’s health and whether he will be available for the playoff matchup at all.
On Monday — the first day of competition in the NBA’s 2020 Playoffs — The Athletic’s Shams Charania joined The Pat McAfee Show and provided an update on Westbrook.
According to Charania, there is some hope that Westbrook will be able to return to action as soon as this weekend. With Game 1 on Tuesday and Game 2 on Thursday, that means that Westbrook could potentially return in time for Saturday’s Game 3.
He’s gonna miss time to start this season, but I’m told Russell Westbrook has started some light on-court workouts, some light shooting and there is some hope he could play as soon as this weekend, but again, with quad injuries, Pat, you know, these are tricky injuries, this is something the team won’t really know until it sees how Russell Westbrook responds on a day-to-day basis, but there is some hope that he can return at some point this series, but again, it’s that cautious optimism. And the fact that he was able to get back on the floor and start some light shooting I think is the one optimistic sign as they start off this series against Oklahoma City, which is gonna be the favorites, without Russell Westbrook in the lineup, it’s gonna be the favorites as they start the series on Tuesday.
#NBA insider @ShamsCharania gives us the latest on the status of @russwest44 #PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/ldQbU6guxM
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 17, 2020
Charania’s report comes a day after USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s Ben DuBose tweeted video of Westbrook getting some shots up. While it doesn’t appear that he’s anywhere near ready to return to the court, it’s worth mentioning that Saturday’s Game 3 is scheduled for Aug. 22 — 10 full days after the last time Westbrook played.
The #Rockets ruled out Russell Westbrook (right quad strain) for Game 1, but he was dressed out at Sunday’s practice and doing some stationary shooting drills, among other things. #OneMission pic.twitter.com/VxaGexYsHE
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) August 17, 2020
Tip-off for Game 1 is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Aug. 18.