NBA News Wire
NBA roundup: Thunder’s Westbrook may return Friday
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
It might be just a matter of days before guard Russell Westbrook returns to the Oklahoma Thunder lineup.
Coach Scott Brooks said Westbrook, who has been out since Oct. 30, could be activated for Friday night’s game against the New York Knicks.
Westbrook took part in most to the Thunder’s practice on Monday. He participated in contact drills and his right hand, which he fractured in the season’s second game, showed no ill effects.
Oklahoma remains without forward Kevin Durant, who had surgery five weeks ago after breaking his foot. He is expected to be examined later this week.
–The New Orleans Pelicans have lost All-Star guard Eric Gordon indefinitely with a torn labrum
Gordon was injured in a 106-94 win on Saturday over Utah. He will have more tests this week to determine if surgery will be required.
–Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James said he is the major reason for the team’s struggles.
“We got a four-game losing streak, so I stink,” he told the Cleveland Plain Dealer during Monday’s shootaround.
James has not shot well and has been a culprit in turning the ball over. He admitted the team was “fragile” after a loss to Toronto over the weekend.
“I’m not doing my job,” James said. “I got to do a better job and it will help our team.”
–Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard, who has missed the past two games, will miss Monday night’s game. Earlier in the day, there were reports that Howard would see game action.
Howard has sat out the Rockets past two games after getting plasma therapy treatment on his right knee.
–The Indiana Pacers will be without center Roy Hibbert when they face the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night.
Hibbert sprained an ankle in the Pacers’ 106-83 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.
–Los Angeles Lakers guard Xavier Henry suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon that will require surgery and is expected to sideline him for the rest of the season, the team announced Monday.
Henry suffered the injury at Monday’s practice and an MRI revealed the severity of the injury.
–Charlotte Hornets forward Jeff Taylor said that he will not appeal his 24-game suspension and that he took full responsibility for his actions and accepted his punishment.
Taylor was suspended for 24 games without pay because of his involvement in a domestic violence case.
–The Cavaliers recalled center Alex Kirk from the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League.
–The Dallas Mavericks recalled point guard Ricky Ledo from the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League.
–The Philadelphia 76ers recalled forward JaKarr Sampson from the Delaware 87ers of the NBA Development League.
