Kofi Inkoom
Los Angeles Clippers’ guard Russell Westbrook had surgery on Monday to fix his fractured left hand, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The surgery aims to get him back on the court before the playoffs kick off. Westbrook sustained the injury during the Clippers’ win over the Washington Wizards on Friday, which ended 140-115.
The 35-year-old had been playing consistently, appearing in all of the Clippers’ first 58 games of the season prior to his injury.
He initially started the season as a starter but adapted to a reserve role after the team’s lineup changes following the James Harden trade in October.
Despite coming off the bench, Westbrook maintained his effectiveness, contributing an average of 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 21.2 minutes per game before his injury against Washington.
Beyond his stats, Westbrook’s impact on the team is significant, as highlighted by Harden when discussing the void his absence creates.
Westbrook’s injury comes as a surprise considering his typically robust health in recent years, with him playing at least 70 games in six of his last eight seasons.
During Westbrook’s absence, the Clippers plan to increase the playing time of Bones Hyland, who had fallen out of the rotation due to inconsistency in shooting. Hyland saw action in the Clippers’ game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
Currently holding the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, the Clippers are likely headed to the playoffs, hoping Westbrook will be back in action by then.