OKC Thunder: Rockets update Westbrook expected to miss Game 3

Former OKC Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook has yet to play in the series and isn’t expected back for Game 3

If you watched Game 2 of the OKC Thunder versus the Houston Rockets, former team member and favorite son of OKC, Russell Westbrook was actively involved on the sidelines. But not as a player, more in the role of coach. It was another game he was out due to the strained quadriceps muscle he’s suffering from making it his fourth consecutive missed game.

Earlier in the week, Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni said he was hopeful Westbrook would return for the third game. While the team has until 5:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to confirm his participation the coach told media today it’s unlikely the Brodie will suit up.

USA Today writer Mark Medina send out a message on social media advising on D’Antoni’s update. The former Most Valuable Player got in some running and shooting today at the Rockets practice. He still isn’t participating in contact, however. As per Medina D’Antoni said ‘he’s probably out’.

A few takeaways from this are whether Westbrook is progressing as quickly as the Rockets had hoped. As Thunderous Intentions outlined previously a quadriceps injury is almost the worst possible thing Russ could be dealing with just based on his style of play.

It’s a muscle injury which is what Westbrook relies on to allow his power and speed. As we noted depending on the severity of the strain (different grades) it would determine the amount of time he’d be off the court.

The enigmatic point guard has had a bit of a rough summer testing positive for COVID-19 although he was asymptomatic it meant he arrived late to the bubble.

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

The second school of thought here, is why would the Rockets bring him back at this point anyway? Unless he was 100 percent healthy why risk him reinjuring the quad or making the injury worse? Given the Rockets are up two games to zilch they have the benefit of exercising extra patience and caution with their point guard.

If the teams weren’t playing in the bubble that might be more upsetting as fans in OKC would want to see him play. And even at Disney, Thunder Nation misses seeing Westbrook on the court.

As for injuries on the Thunder side, everyone is back and the injury report has no players listed even as ‘probable’ which is a positive sign.

Getting Luguentz Dort back made an impact Although part of James Harden’s Game 2 cold-shooting might just be attributed to an off night its clear Dort bothers him more than any other Thunder defender. Again, as we’ve highlighted previously Harden is so strong he can push people off him but Dort’s physical frame stymies that ability of the NBA’s top point man.

We’ll also have to see if Donovan throws more caution to the wind in Game 3 since he held Dort back in Game 2 from a minute perspective in order to ensure he was healthy for the next matches. Again, that was an interesting choice since there were no minutes restrictions on him.