Russell Westbrook is expected to be sidelined for the one week of games with a left quadriceps injury. The Washington Wizards announced the injury was due to “repeated contact to the area since the beginning of the season.”
Westbrook will be re-evaluated at the end of the week.
He already missed one game due to the injury, Saturday against the Miami Heat.
Despite averaging a near triple-double through seven games this season, Westbrook hasn’t looked his primed self. He is shooting a career-worst 37.8% from the field. He’s seen an uptick shooting threes compared to the previous three seasons. Still, his three-point shooting is a subpar 30.3%.
Westbrook isn’t getting to the rim as years past. Instead he is settling for more mid-range jumpers. Averaging 19.3 points, 11.3 assists and 9.7 rebounds looks great on the surface. But, his 0.72 points per possession is worse than 90% of the NBA, according to Synergy Sports (h/t Kevin O’Connor/ The Ringer).
Westbrook’s absence is yet another major blow for the Wizards, who are tied for the worst record in the NBA at 2-8. Center Thomas Bryant is already lost for the season with a torn ACL he suffered Saturday night.
The Wizards face the Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Detroit Pistons and the surprising Cleveland Cavaliers this week. Washington will have to figure out ways to win and prevent the season from getting away without their starting point guard and center.
