(Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) ATLANTA, GEORGIA – Russell Westbrook (#0) of the LA Clippers drives to the basket after being fouled against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena on February 5, 2024. in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Los Angeles Clippers have held up so far in games where Russell Westbrook is unavailable, having won three out of four.
Brodie has missed three games so far after leaving the game against the Washington Wizards with a hand injury.
Here’s the play where it appears Russell Westbrook has a hand injury. He catches and flexes his hand several times immediately after trying to take the ball out of Jordan Poole’s hands. https://t.co/we7FFBzDxX pic.twitter.com/vqgUTDt7px
– Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) March 2, 2024
These were hard-fought victories. They had to fight back against the Minnesota Timberwolves to earn an 89-88 victory, while against the Houston Rockets they had to take a 20-point lead against the young players.
“Just I feel bad for Russ right now,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue was quoted as saying by Athleticism.
“You never want to see a player get hurt. Jordan Poole rolled and he tried to swerve out the back. I think he hit his elbow with his hand. We don’t know what timetable, we don’t We don’t know if he needs surgery or anything right now, but he’s out right now. So I’m just trying to figure it out.
They lack the toughness and defensive IQ of the former MVP.
Learn more: ‘Get rid of all the Europeans’ is a former All-Star’s solution to the NBA’s defensive woes
When will he be able to come back?
Russell Westbrook’s return could be soon
The 2016 MVP previously underwent surgery to repair his broken left hand, which he also injured and recovered from in 2014.
It will now be evaluated from week to week. NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski said there’s a chance Westbrook plays again by the playoffs.
“The expectation is that he could be back with this team before the playoffs,” he said via ESPN.
“For this Clippers team, they are certainly reassured by the idea of having Russell Westbrook back for the playoffs.”
Westbrook is considered one of the toughest players in the league, although he has his a fair share of injuries.
He was sidelined with quad, ankle and foot, back and hamstring injuries.
The one that kept him sidelined the most games was his shooting hand injury in 2014.
An effort for Westbrook
The all-time Triple-Double leader has been the Clippers’ glue guy off the bench this season.
He began the season as a member of the starting five, but decided to become a sixth man when James Harden joined mid-season.
He averages 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 21 minutes of play.
More than the stats, however, Lue lacks his leadership on and off the field.
Bones Hyland was tapped to replace him, even though his production remained mediocre.
We remember that Hyland, who expressed his enthusiasm at the start of 2023 about being fired by the Denver Nuggets, is unhappy with his reduced role.
He is ready to contribute again.
“Bizzy is back. Bizzy is back,” Hyland said, using another nickname. “It’s been a long time, but honestly I’m ready to continue contributing to the team, building these wins and continuing this momentum for what we all want to do.”
So far, he’s averaging about 3 points per game in 11 minutes of play each outing.
Related article: Clippers’ Russell Westbrook’s Injury Timeline After Surgery Revealed
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