NBA Oklahoma City Thunder

Russell Westbrook Injury Leaves Oklahoma City Thunder’s Season In Limbo

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By @TheSizzle20

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The Oklahoma City Thunder had a three-point opportunity at the buzzer on Thursday night that could have forced overtime against the Los Angeles Clippers. Serge Ibaka got off a clean look, but it didn’t find the bottom of the net. You have to wonder how different the game would have looked had Russell Westbrook not been on the sideline.

OKC knew that they were going to be starting the 2014-15 NBA season without their superstar and the league’s reigning MVP in Kevin Durant as he recovered from a Jones fracture in his foot. The team and the fans took solace, though, in the fact that their fiery point guard would be able to lead the team in Durant’s absence.

Now that seems in question after Westbrook was taken to the back in the second quarter against the Clips with an apparent hand injury. He did not return to action, but did come back to the bench with his hand wrapped in ice and, according to reporters at the game, was in good spirits on the sidelines.

According to J.A. Adande of ESPN, Thunder head coach Scott Brooks told the media that the point guard has a small fracture in his right hand. There’s no word yet on what treatment they plan to pursue or what the timetable is for his return, but Westbrook missing any stretch of time is detrimental to OKC.

Sure, they’re role players stepped up big to put up a fight against the Clippers on Thursday night, but you can’t expect guys like Perry Jones III to step up to the tune of 30 points every night. Without Durant, the importance of Westbrook’s presence is almost indescribable. They’ll sink without him there.

Oklahoam City, when healthy, is a contender for the 2015 NBA Championship. However, without their two best players as the team competes in the loaded Western Conference, the Thunder aren’t a playoff-caliber team. We’ll have to see how long Westbrook is out to know just how severe this could be for the Thunder, but this could put them in even bigger of a hole than just not having Durant would have.

Cody Williams is a Senior Writer with Rant Sports. Follow Cody on Twitter @TheSizzle20, add him on Google and like his Facebook page.

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