Rockets star guard Russell Westbrook is expected to miss at least the start of Houston’s first-round playoff series because of a strained right quad muscle, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Westbrook’s return will depend on how he responds to treatment, sources told ESPN. The news on Westbrook’s status was first reported Thursday by the Houston Chronicle.
Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters Wednesday that Westbook’s availability for the start of the offseason was uncertain.
“We’ll see how it responds and everything, but we all hope,” D’Antoni said. “We’ll just see next week. I don’t know right now.”
Houston is set to take on Westbrook’s former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in the first round.
Westbrook missed Wednesday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers and had previously been ruled out for Friday’s seeding-game finale against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Information from ESPN’s Tim MacMahon was used in this report.
