Clips' Russell Westbrook back from 3-week absence, nets 14 in loss
LOS ANGELES --Russell Westbrookcontributed 14 points in his return from a three-week absence due to surgery to repair a fractured left hand but wasn't able to help lift the LA Clippers in a 133-116 loss to the visiting Indiana Pacers on Monday night.
Westbrook played 18 minutes in his first game back since fracturing his non-shooting hand March 1 against Washington and undergoing surgery March 4. He added 7 assists and 4 rebounds and was 5-of-10 from the field.
Clippers coach Ty Lue said before the game that Westbrook would not be under a minutes restriction.
Lue said the Clippers have missed Westbrook's aggressive energy and hustle and can use his "pop" again. The Clippers went 6-6 without their former MVP point guard.
Westbrook is averaging 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 59 games. He started the first 10 games of the season but made the move to come off the bench to help the Clippers mesh better after the James Harden trade.
From the first game he came off the bench against the Houston Rockets on Nov. 17 to the time he suffered his hand injury, the Clippers went 28-8.
"Another vet, leadership on court, who also is on the same mission we're on," Harden said of what the Clippers get with Westbrook back. "That's to win the championship. So glad to have him back.
