Russell Westbrook Returns Against New York Knicks- But No Durant, No Playoffs For The Thunder?

Rest slightly easier Thunder fans; Russell Westbrook is back. The superstar point guard will make his return tonight against the New York Knicks after a 12 game absence due to a fractured right hand... but last year's NBA MVP Kevin Durant will have to wait a bit longer before hitting the court.  

"It feels great [to be back]," ESPN report Westbrook as saying after the Thunder's pre-game shootaround. "I feel great. Rested. So I'm happy to be back and ready to go out and try to win."

The point guard also explained how this hand injury has been different compared to the torn meniscus in his knee that took three surgeries to finally get right, saying that the hand is "different. I've been able to run around, run and jump to keep my legs conditioned to be able to play throughout a game," he told ESPN. "So hopefully I'm conditioned enough to be able to go through a game."

The Thunder are currently at 4-12, the third-worst mark in the notoriously difficult Western Conference. What Westbrook's return means for the Thunder, though, is that the cavalry are coming. With Westbrook back, the team have the playmaking and scoring fulcrum that they've so sorely lacked in the first quarter of the season. 

While backup point guard Reggie Jackson has filled in admirably, he's not the devastating force of nature Westbrook is when healthy, and the lack of scoring punch for the Thunder with both Durant and Westbrook out has seen them slip to a terrible 90.1 points per game, only slightly above the historically terrible Philadelphia 76ers (at 89.9 ppg). 

And with SBnation pointing out "it's likely to take about 50 wins to make the playoffs", the team will need every ounce of scoring from Westbrook, and could obviously use Durant and the 32 points a game he averaged last year back as soon as possible too. He participated in practice this week, but no return has been set for the MVP.  

As for who benefits the most from Westbrook's return, The Oklahoman's Thunder beat writer Anthony Slater reports Thunder coach Scott Brooks simply saying "Me". 

Even while injured Westbrook has still been doing good, as evidenced by work with the Boys & Girls Club of America.