NBA Fantasy Basketball Injury Updates & Waiver Wire: Russell Westbrook Breaks Hand; Perry Jones Expected To Step Up
The Oklahoma City Thunder took another major blow to their campaign this season after Russell Westbrook sustained a fractured hand on Thursday night.
Westbrook suffered a small fracture of the second metacarpal in his right hand during the second quarter of their 93-90 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, which forced him to sit out the rest of the second half. Highlights showed that Westbrook hurt his hand when he went for a rebound and hit Kendrick Perkins' elbow.
ESPN reported that that Westbrook will be reevaluated on Friday, but it appears that the All-Star point guard will likely need four to eight weeks to recover depending on the kind of treatment the Thunder will decide to take.
Westbrook joined the Thunder's growing list of injured players. Kevin Durant is also out after undergoing a foot surgery, while Reggie Jackson and Jeremy Lamb are also unavailable for the Thunder.
"It's unfortunate the way it is right now, but we have to figure out how to get better from all of our experiences," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said via ESPN. "Good teams and good players bounce back from adversity, and our guys understand that."
NBA Fantasy Basketball Impact
It is disappointing news for fantasy owners who picked Westbrook in the first round, but it will also give other players the opportunity to shine.
Without Durant and Westbrook, Perry Jones is expected to play a bigger role for the Thunder moving forward, which means that the former Baylor University standout should be picked up in all fantasy league formats.
Jones is still available in most fantasy leagues and owners should not think twice in getting him, especially after the 23-year-old forward scored 32 points on 10-for-17 shooting to go along with seven rebounds, three assists and three three-pointers in 42 minutes of playing time against the Clippers.
"Westbrook (hand) is going to miss some time and Jones is clearly the best offensive option," Rotoworld noted. "He is definitely going to have some bad games mixed in, but he can add some defensive stats and should fill up the box score."
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