Rockets' Russell Westbrook Could Miss NBA Playoffs Due to Injury

By Dana Cruz Aug 13 2020, 03:53 AM EDT

Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook may not be available for the start of the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs because of an injury, the team announced Wednesday.

Westbrook had an MRI revealing a strained muscle in his right quadriceps, reported the ESPN. With this, he will not play in the remaining seeding games and reevaluated before playoffs begin on August 17.

According to USA Today, the seeding games will include those against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday and Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. The team first planned for Westbrook to miss out on just the Wednesday game.

Houston is set to take on Westbrook's former team, the Oklahoma Thunder in the first round of playoffs.

Westbrook had already missed two seeding games, wins over the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings, the CBS Sports reported.

Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said they would see how Westbrook responds in the coming days, but the team is hoping he gets in good shape before playoffs.

"We'll just see next week. I don't know right now," he said.

D'Antoni noted that Westbrook injured his quad during Tuesday's loss to San Antonio. He managed to play 28 minutes for that game, with 20 points, five rebounds, and six assists. The following day though, Westbrook came to the game and could walk on his own accord.

The coach believed Westbrook didn't "aggravate" his muscles during or after the San Antonio feat. He said Westbrook was fine that day, but "woke up the next day kind of sore."

Westbrook got checked for the soreness and was monitored about his response to treatment.

"We don't know 100 percent right now," D'Antoni said but assured that Westbrook would be out by Friday.

Westbrook Missed Training Camp

Westbrook missed the start of a resumed training camp because he tested positive for the coronavirus. His team left for Orlando in early July, but he returned in time to be part of the practices and scrimmages before the season restart.

An NBA statement released said Westbrook had been trying to play through his injury since the season restart. He first felt soreness in his quads after the Rockets lost to the Portland Trail Blazers on August 4. There, the Rockets lost 110-102.

Westbrook only made five of 12 free throws and finished with 15 points and nine assists. This snapped the streak of 36 straight games with at least 20 points.

According to the team, Westbrook sat out the next two games because of a right quad contusion.

In this season, Westbrook is averaging 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and seven assists.

Rockets' Next Bet

The Rockets bounced back with third guard Eric Gordon back on Wednesday after a two-week absence due to a spreading ankle.

If Westbrook would be forced to miss playoff games, his team will have a deep backcourt, including Gordon and bubble standouts Austin Rivers and Ben McLemore.

The team can also look to former MVP James Harden for some good points. Still, the Rockets would obviously want to have their former MVP at full strength in the postseason.