Rockets list Russell Westbrook as out for Game 4 with quad injury

Westbrook remains out on the injury report, but video of Houston’s Sunday practice shows Russ going through several on-court drills.

The Rockets continue to say that All-Star guard Russell Westbrook (right quad strain) is getting closer to a return. But in Sunday’s injury report, the former MVP remains listed as out for Monday’s Game 4 of the first-round playoff series between Houston and Oklahoma City.

Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni said last week that new MRI imaging had shown improvement in Westbrook’s quad, and that he had begun doing some running and limited on-court activity as of Friday.

But he also conceded that Houston’s position of advantage in the best-of-seven series allowed them to be more cautious with Westbrook. Even after losing Saturday’s Game 3, the Rockets still lead by a 2-1 margin.

Regarding Westbrook, here’s what D’Antoni said at Sunday’s practice:

I do know that today has gone great, and [Westbrook] is really working hard, and it feels like he’s getting closer. He’s living in the training room, putting a lot of movement into it now, so he can get to 100 percent.

The NBA’s automated cameras at the Disney World “bubble” captured Westbrook going through a series of drills on Sunday.

While Westbrook is listed as out for Monday’s Game 4, that listing is not binding. For example, the Thunder listed Lu Dort as out on their injury report a day before Game 2, only to upgrade him on the day of the game. However, that is clearly the exception to the usual rule.

Westbrook missed two games with a right quad injury before returning for 28 minutes on Tuesday, August 11. He was again ruled out the next day with an injury to the same quad, and he hasn’t played since. Wednesday’s Game 5 would be 15 days since his last game activity.

Last Monday, a report indicated that the Rockets were hopeful he could return as soon as the weekend. However, that report came prior to Houston grabbing a lead in the series, which they still hold. It could be that the Rockets are unwilling to take any risks with Westbrook, as long as they still hold the advantage. (It’s worth noting that they won Game 1 and Game 2 by double digits without him, and very nearly won Game 3.)

Now 31 years old, Westbrook has averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists in 35.9 minutes per game during a brilliant debut season in Houston. A nine-time NBA All-Star and the 2017 MVP, Westbrook shot a career-high 47.2% in the regular season with the Rockets — whose small-ball approach opened up more opportunities to attack the rim. He is the team’s No. 2 scorer, trailing only MVP finalist James Harden.

Game 4 between the Rockets and Thunder tips off at 3:00 p.m. Central on Monday, with a national broadcast on TNT and a regional version (with Houston announcers) on AT&T SportsNet Southwest.

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