Russell Westbrook Back For Thunder, Kevin Durant Soon To Follow?

Russell Westbrook is slated to return to the Oklahoma City Thunder lineup Friday night after missing the team’s last 14 games with a broken right hand.

The three-time All-Star guard returns for the struggling Thunder when they host the equally downtrodden New York Knicks (4-12). Westbrook last played in the second game of the season when he suffered the injury against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Westbrook’s injury pushed him to the sidelines where he joined reigning league MVP Kevin Durant for the first-month of the Thunder’s thus far 4-12 season. Durant has yet to play this season recuperating from a broken bone in his right foot.

Westbrook and Durant combined for 54 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists for the OKC last season and in their absence the Thunder have largely relied on fourth- year guard Reggie Jackson. The versatile guard is currently averaging career-highs of 20.2 points, 7.8 assists and 5.2 rebounds. With Westbrook now set to return, Jackson is expected to return to his role as sixth man.

Thunder coach Scott Brooks adds the 26-year-old Westbrook will not be on a minutes restrictions upon his return. After the Knicks game, the Thunder play six games over two weeks, including clashes against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers and Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Thunder are also hopeful that they will soon have the seven-year veteran Durant back in the lineup in the coming days. Since entering the league, the sharpshooting Durant has averaged at least 20 points, four rebounds and two assists a season.

With Westbrook now back in the fold and Durant reportedly on the way, the Thunder are hopeful of making the kind of magical run they will need to make the playoffs. Based on last year’s finish where Dallas needed 49 wins to qualify for the Western Conference’s eighth and final playoff spot, OKC with need to go at least 45-21 over the remainder of the season.

[Photo Credit: Keith Allison]

Russell Westbrook Back For Thunder, Kevin Durant Soon To Follow?