Russell Westbrook will reportedly return to the lineup for the Houston Rockets for Game 5 of its first round series against the Thunder. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Tim McMahon, whose source claimed that Westbrook looked “as explosive as ever” in scrimmage play on Thursday.
After the NBA players’ historic strike, the games scheduled for Wednesday through Friday were postponed. On Friday morning, the league and the NBPA issued a joint statement announcing that play would resume on Saturday, but a game schedule was not immediately announced.
The pause in play will allow the NBA to re-stagger the schedule in such a way that would have an even number of contests played each day.
The most educated guess would have the Thunder and Rockets squaring up for Game 5 on Saturday, but a more formal announcement is expected in short order.
Story filed to ESPN: The Houston Rockets held an instrasquad scrimmage Thursday to get All-Star guard Russell Westbrook his first full-speed 5-on-5 action since he was diagnosed with a strained right quadriceps, sources told @wojespn
and I. Source: "Looked as explosive as ever."— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) August 28, 2020
What is more important to note at this point is that whenever Game 5 is played, Westbrook is expected to be available.
According to The Athletic’s Kelly Iko, Westbrook would have been in the lineup for Game 5 if it was played on Wednesday as originally scheduled. Nonetheless, the pause has given the former MVP additional time to rest and get his body right.
Russell Westbrook will play in Game 5 on Saturday, according to multiple sources. Westbrook was ready and would have played in the originally scheduled game on Wednesday, prior to the walkout.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) August 28, 2020
In a series that many people didn’t think the Thunder would even be in, they find themselves tied up with the Rockets after dropping the first two games.
In a best-of-seven tied at 2-2, the team that wins Game 5 wins the series about 80% of the time, so having Westbrook back is good news for the Rockets — not so much for the Thunder.