Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook will not play in Sunday’s game against the Orlando Magic, the team announced. Westbrook will rest on the back end of the back-to-back with Magic.
Both teams played Saturday with the Magic winning 130-120, despite a second consecutive triple-double for Westbrook. He finished with 15 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists. However, he shot a subpar 6-of-19 from the field, including 0-or-4 from three.
Westbrook took blame for the loss in large due his shooting woes.
He will have to wait until Tuesday against the Chicago Bulls to get over his struggles from the last game.
Westbrook sitting is consistent with what Wizards head coach Scott Brooks stated prior to the start of the season. Westbrook will be rested in back-to-backs, a plan the team had slated for John Wall coming off his ruptured Achilles in 2019. Westbrook was traded from the Houston Rockets for John Wall and a 2023 protected-first round pick.
Westbrook isn’t coming off an injury, but the 2017 NBA MVP is 32 years of age. The Rockets had a similar plan for him last season. Additionally, he was hampered with a quad injury in last summer’s bubble while with Houston.
Through two games with his new team, Westbrook is averaging 18 points, 13.5 assists and 13 rebounds, while shooting 36.6% from the field.
In his absence, the Wizards will lean on their cornerstone player, Bradley Beal. Beal is averaging 35 points per game and shooting 54.3% from the field through the first two games of the season. Ish Smith is expected to start at point guard in Westbrook’s place.
