A sore hamstring kept Russell Westbrook from playing against the Nuggets, but the Lakers are hopeful that he will be ready to play against the Timberwolves.
According to an NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the former NBA MVP could possibly come off the bench in Minnesota. That would be the first time for him not to be a starter in an official game since joining the Lakers.
“Russell Westbrook is out tonight with that sore hamstring, I’m told, he’s hopeful that he can return on Friday in Minnesota,” Woj said on ESPN’s NBA Countdown. “Remember, this is a player seven times in his career he’s played 80-plus games. Nobody who’s played more.
“I think for Westbrook when if he returns on Friday the possibility remains that he returns coming off the bench. Austin Reaves is expected to start tonight against Denver. They prepared Russell Westbrook for his.
“Darvin Ham did in the offseason at the end of the preseason that his role could be coming off the bench. They thought about the idea of Westbrook as the primary ball handler on that second unit instead of having to play off the ball with the starting unit.”
This season Westbrook is averaging 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 28.7 minutes of play for Los Angeles.
