LA Clippers level guard Russell Westbrook is anticipated to return to the lineup subsequent week, maybe as quickly as Monday towards the Indiana Pacers, sources instructed ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Monday’s recreation towards the Pacers will mark three weeks from when Westbrook underwent surgical procedure to restore a fractured left hand he suffered March 1 towards Washington.
The Clippers have missed the aggressive power and hustle of one of many league’s high sixth males. They had been 5-5 with out their former MVP level guard heading into Friday’s recreation at Portland.
Westbrook is averaging 11.1 factors, 5.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists this season in 58 video games. He began the primary 10 video games of the season however made the transfer to come back off the bench to assist the Clippers mesh higher after the James Harden commerce.
From the primary recreation he got here off the bench towards Houston on Nov. 17 to the time he suffered his hand harm towards Washington on March 1, the Clippers went 28-8.
Westbrook’s return will present a Clippers workforce that lately misplaced 4 out of 5 video games with a welcome jolt.
Throughout Wednesday’s 116-103 win at Portland, Harden went viral for jokingly closing out on a Kawhi Leonard 3-point try after he handed to Leonard within the nook when the Clippers had been up 21 within the third quarter. Leonard missed the three, however the possession ended with Amir Coffey sinking an open 3.
Harden defined that he was making an attempt to lighten the temper for the Clippers, who had been in a little bit little bit of a funk as much as that time.
“Obtained to deliver some pleasure to the workforce,” Harden mentioned of the second. “I believe these previous few weeks have been a fog for us, and I believe each workforce goes by way of it. So I believe it’s simply me making an attempt to create an awesome power, create an awesome vibe for this workforce. I imply, it could have been higher if he would have made the shot. Simply give one thing to snort about, some pleasure for the season.”
Westbrook is the one participant to common 10 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists off the bench for a profession since starters had been first tracked in 1970-71 (minimal 50 video games) in keeping with ESPN Stats and Info.
He ranks within the top-10 in assists per recreation off the bench this season. And the Clippers will welcome his protection again as the purpose guard has held opponents to 39.7% capturing because the contesting defender this season, third-best amongst gamers to contest 300 or extra pictures this season per Second Spectrum.