After missing two games due to a right quad contusion, Russell Westbrook is set to return Tuesday for the Houston Rockets. Fellow All-Star guard James Harden, however, will not be on the court with him.
There’s no known injury of concern with Harden, who is resting on the front end of Houston’s only back-to-back sequence of games at the NBA “bubble.” Harden is expected to be back on the court Wednesday.
With the 2020 NBA playoffs only a week away, the Rockets (44-25) are understandably being cautious with their superstars.
Head coach Mike D’Antoni said before Monday’s team practice that both of the former MVPs were healthy and would get in time during these two games against a pair of potential playoff teams, with San Antonio (31-38) up first and Indiana (43-27) looming the very next day.
James Harden to sit out tomorrow for rest. Eric Gordon and Russell Westbrook will also each play in one game of the back-to-back, Westbrook playing tomorrow and Gordon on Wednesday.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) August 10, 2020
Now 31 years old, Westbrook is averaging 27.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.1 assists in 36.1 minutes per game during a brilliant debut season in Houston. A nine-time NBA All-Star, Westbrook is shooting a career-high 47.2% with the Rockets — whose unconventional small-ball approach has helped open up more opportunities to attack the rim.
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Reserve guard Ben McLemore started in Westbrook’s place the last two outings, so it seems likely that he would also start in place of Harden on Tuesday vs. the Spurs. McLemore took advantage of his opportunity, scoring 20.0 points per game on 45.8% shooting from 3-point range as Houston comfortably defeated the Lakers and Kings.
San Antonio is among several teams battling for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, while Houston (44-25) is still playing for seeding. The Rockets can finish anywhere between No. 2 and No. 5.
Tuesday’s tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. Central, with a national broadcast on NBA TV and regional telecast on AT&T SportsNet Southwest.
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