UPDATE 10:45 am: We have a rough timetable now, courtesy the always on it Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman — 4-6 weeks. That’s an estimate based on previous injuries and talking to officials, but the Thunder have yet to release anything officially.
If accurate, that means Westbrook and Kevin Durant (foot) will likely be out the same amount of time, into early December.
The scary part for the Thunder is this could cost them home court in the first round of the playoffs, knocking their win total down and dropping them to a 5-6-7 seed. Just about the most dangerous lower seed ever, but it makes the road to the Finals much more difficult.
2:14 am: The injury gods have it in for Oklahoma City.
Already without Kevin Durant until December, Russell Westbrook fractured his hand in the first half of the Thunder’s loss to the Clippers Thursday night, coach Scott Brooks announced after the game to reporters, including Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman.
Thunder coach Scott Brooks says Russell Westbrook has a small fracture in his right hand.
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) October 31, 2014
Brooks says the fracture is in Westbrook's second metacarpal. Brooks did not provide a timetable for recovery.
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) October 31, 2014
The injury occured as Westbrook went up for a rebound, reaching up with his left hand while his right seems to get caught in the jersey of or come in contact with Kendrick Perkins, who was also looking for a board. The injury was a complete fluke.
The metacarpal is the bone that connects your wrist area to your fingers, running through the bulk of the hand. There are variables (like where the fracture is on the bone) but this injury often takes 6-8 weeks to heal. The Thunder say they will give a timetable after getting a better look at the injury on Friday (if it really is small he could be back sooner than most).
Still, this means the Thunder will be without Westbrook and Kevin Durant — two top 10 NBA players — until December. The Thunder have had a rash of other injuries including Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, and Anthony Morrow. This is a team that may be a contender but in the brutal Western Conference they are going to have to fight for playoff spot and decent seed after the injuries to open the season.