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Uhm Young Mi-sook, ESPN staff writer
LOS ANGELES — Russell Westbrook will return to the court Monday night against the Indiana Pacers, just three weeks after the Los Angeles Clippers star guard underwent surgery for a broken left hand.
Clippers coach Ty Lue said Westbrook will not be restricted for playing time on Monday. Westbrook broke his non-dribbling hand in a game against the Washington Wizards on March 1st and underwent surgery on March 4th.
Lue said the Clippers are missing Westbrook's offensive energy and hustle and could use his “pop” again. The Clippers went 6-6 without their former MVP point guard.
Westbrook averaged 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 58 games. He started the first 10 games of the season, but decided to come off the bench to help the Clippers mesh better after the James Harden trade.
From his first game off the bench against the Houston Rockets on Nov. 17 until his hand injury, the Clippers had a 28-8 record.
“Another veteran, another on-court leadership, someone with the same mission as us,” Harden said of what the Clippers will get with Westbrook's return. “It's about winning championships. I'm really happy to have him back.
