PORTLAND — Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook will not play in Wednesday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers because of tightness in his lower back, the team announced.
It will be the first game Westbrook has missed all season.
Westbrook felt the same tightness in his back in Tuesday night’s 131-116 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks but played through it and ultimately felt too much discomfort to play in the second game of a back-to-back Wednesday night, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Westbrook started and had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists against Milwaukee, but for the second game in a row and third time this season he was pulled down the stretch. After being subbed out with 2 minutes, 34 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Westbrook did not get back in the game.
Westbrook is averaging 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.6 assists this season for the Lakers, who entered Wednesday night at 26-29.
LeBron James and Dwight Howard are both listed as active against the Blazers.
