Russell Westbrook to sit out on Tuesday night vs. Timberwolves
The Oklahoma City Thunder have nothing at stake, so Russell Westbrook will sit out on Tuesday night.
With two games to go in the regular season, the Oklahoma City Thunder are locked into the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. Russell Westbrook has played in all 80 games to this point, averaging a triple-double per game and surpassing Oscar Robertson’s record with 42 triple-doubles in a single season. So with nothing at stake for the team’s playoff seed, or for himself individually against history, a case can be made Westbrook is due for a game off like other stars have had.
According Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press and others, Westbrook will sit out Tuesday night’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. His absence appears to be purely for rest purposes, with no injury reported, and there were indications Westbrook would sit out sometime during Oklahoma City’s season-ending back-to-back.
As for if Westbrook will play Wednesday night against the Denver Nuggets, Thunder head coach Billy Donovan told reporters it had not be determined.
Donovan said they will have further discussions on whether Russ plays in the reg season finale tomorrow at home. Still tbd
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) April 11, 2017
Westbrook is not injured, per se, and some other Thunder players will also sit out on Tuesday night.
Oof: Westbrook not playing tonight for Thunder, neither are Taj Gibson & Andre Roberson. All being rested. McDermott out w/ knee
— Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) April 11, 2017
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Westbrook is obviously a top candidate for league MVP, and the obvious winner for some, with career-high averages of 31.9 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game this season. With the Thunder locked into sixth place, a first-round playoff matchup against fellow MVP candidate James Harden and the No. 3 seed Houston Rockets promises to be exciting.