National Basketball Association

Report: Thunder star Westbrook likely to return Wednesday

Published Mar. 3, 2015 11:55 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Oklahoma City Thunder appear to be getting one of their injured All-Stars back very soon.

Russell Westbrook is likely to return Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers and will wear a protective mask, Yahoo Sports/FOX Sports 1 NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday.

Westbrook, who missed one game after suffering a facial fracture Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers, underwent surgery in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Westbrook is coming off a historic month, becoming just the second player to average 31 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in February. Oscar Robertson was the only other player to average those numbers in a calendar month, which he did eight times during his Hall of Fame career.

Even if Westbrook returns, the Thunder will still be short-handed. All-Star forward Kevin Durant has been sidelined for six consecutive games with a foot injury. The Thunder are one game ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans for the eighth spot in the Western Conference playoff chase.