The Los Angeles Lakers have a new cause of concern ahead of the new season as veteran Russell Westbrook injured his hamstring.
The Los Angeles Lakers have not had the best of preseasons, and their preseason reached a new low when veteran Russell Westbrook injured his hamstring in their last preseason game against the Sacramento Kings. Westbrook came off the bench for the first time since his rookie season, but could only last around seven minutes before he had to go off with a hamstring injury.
The Los Angeles Lakers were playing the Sacramento Kings in their preseason finale, and it was revealed before the game that Westbrook would be coming off the bench – something that has not happened since his rookie season in 2008/09. However, when Westbrook indeed came onto the court towards the end of the first quarter, his time on the court was painfully limited.
Westbrook felt his left hamstring during a play and immediately called to be taken off, and the Lakers physios adjudged that he could not go on. Therefore, Westbrook was seen limping off the court and into the locker room near the end of the first quarter.
It would be fair to say that the sight of Westbrook limping into the locker room was not a good one if you’re a Lakers fan.
To be fair, the sight of Westbrook limping into the locker room is not a good one if you have the Lakers’ best interests at heart.
Westbrook joins an injury list that already has Dennis Schröder, who will miss quite a chunk of the season owing to his broken finger (also attained in preseason) – just ahead of their opening night game against the Golden State Warriors. The injuries mean that it is already looking like a depleted backcourt for the Warriors – and Patrick Beverley will have to step into that hole.
Rookie Max Christie, who was in the starting lineup on Friday, could also see some more work – the same goes for Kendrick Nunn. Regardless, Westbrook’s injury puts the Lakers in a tough spot, and they will be hoping that the veteran does not miss a lot of time out with the injury.
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