Thunder rule Westbrook out for Wednesday with sprained ankle

The Oklahoma City Thunder won't have Russell Westbrook in their next game, but they're still breathing a big sigh of relief.

The team announced Tuesday that their All-Star point guard will miss Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but ESPN reported that the ankle injury he sustained on Monday night is only a sprain and Westbrook isn't being ruled out beyond Wednesday.

Westbrook rolled his ankle jumping for a rebound in the third quarter against New Orleans.

While the injury looked significant at the time it happened, X-rays were negative and, per ESPN's Royce Young, the team "confirmed it was nothing more than an ankle sprain that looked worse than it actually is."

According to Young, Westbrook traveled with the team to Cleveland and will be evaluated again on Thursday. As of now, his availability beyond Wednesday will be determined on a game-by-game basis.

Oklahoma City (5-4) has won five straight and hosts Houston on Thursday.

After averaging a triple-double in each of the last two seasons, Westbrook is averaging 24.1 points, 8.9 assists and 8.3 rebounds in seven games this season.

He missed the first two games of the season after undergoing offseason knee surgery.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Thunder's Westbrook out for a month

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook will miss at least four weeks of NBA action after surgery on Saturday to repair a broken bone in his right hand.

Westbrook was hurt during the first half of the Thunder's game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday.

After further tests, he had surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti said Westbrook will be further evaluated in four weeks before his status will be updated.

Westbrook scored 38 points in Wednesday's season opener against Portland.

The Thunder were already without reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant, who had surgery to repair a broken foot before the start of the season.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

OKC's Westbrook suffers hand fracture

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook suffered a small fracture in his right hand Thursday night and is expected to miss four to six weeks.

Westbrook exited Thursday night's 93-90 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers with 6:35 left in the second quarter and did not return.

Westbrook had X-rays taken at Staples Center and was set to be re-evaluated Friday. He had a soft cast on his hand when he left Staples Center and didn't talk with reporters.

Oklahoma City already was without Kevin Durant, last season's league MVP who broke his right foot before the regular season began, as well as guard Reggie Jackson and forward Jeremy Lamb, both significant contributors last season.

Westbrook appeared to injure his hand while going up for a rebound and hitting center Kendrick Perkins' elbow.

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The Golden State Warriors signed shooting guard Klay Thompson to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced.

Although the Warriors did not provide details of the extension, multiple media outlets reported it is four-year maximum extension worth approximately $70 million.

If an agreement with Thompson had not been reached by midnight Friday, he would have become a restricted free agent next summer.

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Forward Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs are unlikely to reach a contract extension by Friday's midnight deadline to sign 2011 first-round picks to long-term deals. Without a new contract, Leonard will be a restricted free agent in July.

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The Utah Jazz and guard Alec Burks agreed to terms on a four-year, $42 million contract extension, according to a Yahoo Sports report.

The deal includes incentive clauses could increase the total value to $45 million.

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The New York Post reported via Twitter that the New York Knicks will decline the option on Shane Larkin, who has been the Knicks starting point guard in their first two games in place of injured Jose Calderon.

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The Milwaukee Bucks have ended contract extension talks with guard Brandon Knight, who will become a restricted free agent next summer.

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The Philadelphia 76ers exercised the third-year options on the contracts for point guard Michael Carter-Williams and forward Nerlens Noel as well as the fourth-year option on guard Tony Wroten's contract.

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Several 2011 first-round picks signed long-term contracts in the past several weeks, including Phoenix Suns forwards Markieff and Marcus Morris, Orlando Magic big man Nikola Vucevic, Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried, Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving and Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker.

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Cleveland Cavaliers' center Anderson Varejao signed a multi-year contract extension with Cleveland, the Cavaliers announced.

The Cavs did not release terms of the deal, but ESPN.com reported Thursday that the contract would be for three years at an estimated $30 million starting with the 2015-16 season. The Brazilian native is in the final year of a six-year, $42.5 million contract. He is making $9.7 million this season. (Editing by Steve Keating)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com