Russell Westbrook: Will Oklahoma City Thunder star play against the Houston Rockets?

The Thunder, 7th in the Western Conference, host the Rockets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena at 1am UK time.

Houston have started the season an underwhelming 4-5 having been tipped to challenge back-to-back champions the Golden State Warriors in the West.

They are however on a three-match winning streak with guards Chris Paul and James Harden back together after absences.

But it is the Thunder who are currently on the second-best winning streak in the league behind the Warriors having triumphed in all of their last six contests.

However their victory before last – at the expense of the New Orleans Pelicans in the early hours of Tuesday morning – came with a price as star man Westbrook landed awkwardly on his left ankle while going up for a rebound in the third quarter. 

The Thunder did manage without Westbrook against the Cleveland Cavaliers last night, winning 95-86 thanks to replacement Dennis Schroder’s 28-point haul. Westbrook was present, walking with an obvious limp.

Will Russell Westbrook play vs the Rockets? 

The Thunder will also have to do without point guard Westbrook tonight for the visit of Houston.

The 2017 MVP has been ruled out by Thunder coach Billy Donovan in his pre-game media session. That means the same line-up that faced the Cavs will take to the floor.

Asked if he was close to returning, Donovan told reporters: “I don’t know that.”

How have Thunder done without Westbrook this season?

Westbrook is averaging a team-high 24.1 points and 8.9 assists per night while also adding 8.3 rebounds so far this season.

The Thunder are 5-2 in the games in which he has played and 1-2 without him, having gone 0-4 to start the year.

When will Westbrook return from injury?

In positive news for OKC, assessments earlier in the week confirmed that seven-time All-Star Westbrook’s injury was not as bad as first feared. ESPN reporter Royce Young confirmed on Twitter that ankle x-rays tested negative. 

The 29-year-old is currently being re-evaluated daily with the Thunder yet to determine when they expect him back.

Dr. Michael George, Orthopaedic Surgeon at KSF Orthopaedic Center in Houston, told NBA.com of Westbrook’s recovery: “An ankle sprain is an injury to the ligaments that hold the ankle bones together to give them stability – their prognosis is dependent on the severity of the injury.

“A Grade 1 injury is a sprain of the ligaments, Grade 2 is a partial ligament tear and Grade 3 is a complete ligament tear. 

“The severity is determined on physical exam and sometimes on MRI. The recovery can range anywhere from a few days for a mild injury to several weeks for a more severe injury.

“Given the explosive nature with which he plays, [Westbrook’s] ankle will need to heal completely before he will be able to return to his normal level of play.”