Report: Rockets star Russell Westbrook participates in 5-on-5 scrimmage ahead of potential Game 5 return

With the season now officially back on track, the Houston Rockets could be getting a boost by the return of Russell Westbrook from a strained quad. The former league MVP has missed the first four games of Houston’s first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he now appears to be on track to make his playoff debut in Game 5.

Tim MacMahon and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN report that the Rockets held an intrasquad scrimmage to test Westbrook’s form, and the results were quite encouraging. According to the report, Westbrook “looked as explosive as ever.”

It was earlier reported that Westbrook was planning to test out his injured quad ahead of Game 5, which was originally scheduled for Wednesday. However, the postponement of the games has led to a few extra days of rest and recovery for the veteran point guard, which has worked in his favor.

The Rockets could sure use Westbrook right now, with the Thunder giving them a run for their money in the first round. The series is now tied at two games apiece, and they are now effectively in a best-of-three series.

James Harden has been tremendous for his team over the course of the first four games, but he should be more than happy to get his backcourt partner-in-crime back for Game 5.

There is, of course, the revenge narrative here for Westbrook and the Thunder (or is it the other way around?), following the 31-year-old’s summer move away from OKC, with whom he memorably spent the first 11 years of his career.

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