The Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder meet on Saturday night for Game 3 at the Toyota Center in Texas and both teams are dealing with issues at point guard, as Russell Westbrook will be out for the rest of the playoffs following surgery and Jeremy Lin could end missing the game after suffering a chest injury in Game 2.
Westbrook needed surgery on his knee and it will now be up to Kevin Durant to lead the Thunder the rest of the way in the playoffs, while the Rockets are hoping the same isn't the case for Lin. Westbrook was an All-Star this season and has been one of the most durable players in the NBA over the past few years, as he has never missed a game before. OKC is up 2-0 after blowing a big lead in Game 2 and now they will have to deal with a depleted arsenal as they go up against their former player in James Harden. Carlos Delfino may get some extra minutes for Houston if Lin can't play and the loss of Westbrook will be a huge factor in the game.
Houston has not hosted a playoff game and Lin may be out of the lineup after getting his first taste of the postseason earlier in the series. The first matchup in the regular season between the two teams saw 46 points for Harden in a win, but Game 1 was nothing like that as the Thunder won 120-91 and Harden had just 20 points. In game two the Rockets made a furious comeback before losing, but both teams suffered with the injuries to Lin and Westbrook. Some have called dirty on the Westbrook play, as rookie Patrick Beverley went for a steal in the second quarter of the game and collided with his knee, giving Westbrook a meniscus tear that will keep him out for the playoffs, making him another star that will miss the postseason, joining Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose and David Lee.
Reggie Jackson will get elevated minutes without Westbrook in the lineup and the focus on offense will go squarely through Durant and Kevin Martin, who was acquired in the Westbrook trade, will have to score much more to get the team going. Lin is a gametime decision for the Rockets on Saturday after bruising his chest on Game 2 in which Houston lost 105-102, after which he sat out the second half. Lin was injured last season when the Knicks made the playoffs and was making his debut after signing a three-year contract with the Rockets in the offseason. The team ranked second in the NBA in scoring and seventh in rebounding, while Lin helped them to sixth in assists.
