Russell Westbrook, the veteran player for the Los Angeles Clippers, has suffered a left hand injury that has left him out indefinitely. The injury occurred during the Clippers’ game against the Washington Wizards at Crypto.com Arena, where they secured a 140-115 victory. While specifics about the broken hand are yet to be revealed, it remains uncertain whether Westbrook will require surgery or if he will be able to return to the court this season.
The incident took place early in the second quarter when Westbrook attempted to reach from behind and strip the ball from Wizards guard Jordan Poole’s hands while on defense. Immediately after the play, Westbrook grabbed his left hand in evident pain. Despite this, he continued to play but reached for his injured hand again during the next stoppage of play. Eventually, he was substituted out of the game and did not make a return.
Interestingly, Westbrook was not the only player to suffer a left hand injury that night. Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors also broke his left hand during their game against the Golden State Warriors. It seems that Friday night was an unfortunate one for left hands in the NBA.
Before his injury, Westbrook had contributed six points and an assist in just 10 minutes off the bench. This season, the 35-year-old has been averaging 11.1 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Clippers, marking his first full season with the team. His absence will undoubtedly be felt by the Clippers as they navigate the remainder of their games.
Despite losing Westbrook to injury, the Clippers managed to secure a comfortable win over the struggling Wizards. Holding a 14-point lead at halftime, they extended their advantage in the second half and cruised to a 25-point victory. The Clippers’ defense was particularly impressive in the third quarter, limiting the Wizards to just 21 points. Additionally, they displayed excellent ball control, committing only eight turnovers throughout the game.
Leading the way for the Wizards was Kyle Kuzma, who recorded 32 points and seven rebounds. Jordan Poole also made a significant impact off the bench with 16 points. However, their efforts were not enough to overcome the Clippers’ dominant performance. James Harden shone for the Clippers, contributing 28 points and eight assists while shooting an impressive 6-of-9 from behind the arc. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George also made substantial contributions, finishing with 27 and 22 points, respectively. As a team, the Clippers shot over 57% from the field.
The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for the Clippers, who have struggled since returning from the All-Star break. They have won just two out of their last five games. With a current record of 38-20, they will now face the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves in their next game on Sunday.
As Russell Westbrook faces an indefinite absence due to his left hand injury, the Clippers will need to rely on their depth and resilience to maintain their strong position in the highly competitive Western Conference. The team will undoubtedly miss Westbrook’s contributions on both ends of the court, but they have shown that they can overcome adversity and secure victories even without key players. The road ahead may be challenging, but the Clippers remain determined to continue their pursuit of success in the NBA.
