OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – For the first time, Thunder coach Scott Brooks faces an extended period of time without his two biggest stars.
With MVP Kevin Durant already out, the Thunder announced today that point guard Russell Westbrook will miss at least a month with a broken right hand. Westbrook, a three-time All-Star, was injured during the second quarter of Thursday night’s 93-90 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The team said Westbrook had successful surgery this morning on the second metacarpal in the hand, and he will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
Westbrook was expected to carry more of the load while Durant sits out for at least a month with a broken right foot. Now, continuity – one of Oklahoma City’s greatest strengths – is now gone.
When Oklahoma City (0-2) play their home opener today against Denver, it will be the first time since Westbrook entered the league in 2008-09 that the home fans won’t see either Durant or Westbrook in the line-up.
The duo missed a game at Boston last season, the only time Brooks has been without both since he became the head coach during Westbrook’s rookie season.
There’s much more missing than Durant and Westbrook. Reggie Jackson (ankle), Jeremy Lamb (lower back sprain), Mitch McGary (broken left foot) and Anthony Morrow (left MCL sprain) also missed Thursday’s game with injuries.
The Thunder have reached the Western Conference Finals three of the past four years and the NBA Finals once, but it will be hard to get back to that level if they fall too far back in the standings before their key players heal.