The 2018-19 season did not go according to plan for the Oklahoma City Thunder to start the year, as they lost their first four games of the season. However, they’ve rebounded with four straight wins to claw back to .500 on the early season as Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and company seem to have found their form of late after Westbrook missed the first two games of the season working his way back from offseason knee surgery.
Unfortunately, Westbrook may be on the shelf again after he suffered an apparent left ankle injury against the Pelicans on Monday night in Oklahoma City. Westbrook goes up for a rebound and lands on his left leg and you can hear him scream as he collapses to the floor in pain. Westbrook would limp back to the locker room after some time on the floor to get evaluated.
Oh no. Westbrook came down on AD's foot and went down fast. Clearly in a lot of pain… https://t.co/5zhYs2opQg
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) November 6, 2018
The alternate angle shows how nasty his left ankle rolls as it comes down on Anthony Davis’ foot.
This looked awful. Hope Russ is OK… https://t.co/LMZMbgC0Dc
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) November 6, 2018
Following the injury, the Thunder announced a left ankle sprain for Westbrook.
Thunder are saying a left ankle sprain for Westbrook.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) November 6, 2018
Later, word broke that X-rays were negative on the injury.
Westbrook had X-rays on his left ankle and they were negative.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) November 6, 2018
Hopefully it’s nothing severe for Westbrook (and the negative X-rays are encouraging), as you hate to see any player go down with a major injury and any absence from him is a significant blow to the Thunder. In the meantime, Dennis Schröder appears to be the man running the show for the Thunder the rest of the way against Oklahoma City, as he had to do to start the season.
We will continue to update this post as more information and details on Westbrook’s injury are released.
