OKLAHOMA CITY -- Russell Westbrook apparently is a quick healer. The All-Star point guard, sidelined for the past six months with a knee injury, was set to return to the Oklahoma City Thunder lineup for Sunday nights home game against the Phoenix Suns, weeks earlier than expected. Westbrook was slated to start instead of easing back into action. "Rehab is a tough process," Westbrook said. "Im going to continue to rehab throughout the season, before the game, whatever I need to do to stay healthy throughout the year. Its a tough process, but Im thankful for . everybody that supported me throughout the process. "Im just happy to be back on the floor." Before Sunday, Westbrook hadnt played since tearing the lateral meniscus in his right knee during the second game of the NBA playoffs last April. The injury occurred when Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley banged knees with him while going for a steal after Westbrook had stopped to call a timeout. Westbrook underwent an initial surgery for the injury on April 27. He underwent another surgery on Oct. 1 to remove a loose stitch from the first procedure. At the time, the Thunder said he would miss the first four to six weeks of the regular season. Under that timetable, Westbrook could have been out for as many as 22 games. Instead, he missed only two games - a win at Utah on Wednesday and a loss at Minnesota on Friday. Westbrook said he never expected to be out four to six weeks. "I dont know who made that up in the first place," he said. "I was never on that timeline at all. I was just taking it day by day and going one day at a time until I was ready to play." Thunder General Manager Sam Presti called Westbrooks rehabilitation process "methodical" and said it "has been instrumental in getting Russell to this point." Presti said the process included physical and medical benchmarks, the final one being "unrestricted basketball activity." Presti said the team, doctors, Westbrooks representatives and Westbrook all agreed "that returning to play was the correct next step." Thunder coach Scott Brooks said the team found out late Saturday that Westbrook would be able to play Sunday. Asked if he thought he might be a bit rusty after such a long layoff, Westbrook replied, "I expect to win. I just expect to go out there and play hard, have fun with my teammates and try to win. "Its going to be a little different, to get back in the groove of things, find a rhythm, whatever it may be. But well take it day by day and try to get it together." .ca! Hi Kerry, The recent issues in the Boston-Pittsburgh game have highlighted a number of officiating, game control, and player sportsmanship aspects. .5 million. The 25-year-old Varlamov is thriving under first-year coach and Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy, posting a 26-9-5 record with a 2.
https://www.cheapblackhawks.com/. The trade deadline is Monday, Mar. 2 at 3pm et/Noon pt. TRADES COMPLETED SINCE OCT. 1, 2014: Feb. 15, 2015 Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: F Olli Jokinen, F Brendan Leipsic, 1st Round Pick (2015) Nashville Predators acquire: D Cody Franson, F Mike Santorelli Feb. . Orlando is to begin play in the MLS for the 2015 season. Kaka, who currently plays with AC Milan, is expected to be loaned out to his home club Sao Paulo for the upcoming season before joining Orlando for next season. . Vettel only needs to finish fifth or better Sunday to wrap up the championship with three races remaining, and bettered his own lap record to claim his third straight pole at Buddh International Circuit.TOKYO -- Second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark beat Garbine Muguruza of Spain 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 on Saturday to reach the final of the Pan Pacific Open. The U.S. Open finalist lost the first two games of the third set but took advantage of an increasingly erratic Muguruza and won when her opponent sent a forehand wide on match point. Wozniacki, who won here in 2010, will meet third-seeded Ana Ivanoovic of Serbia in Sundays final.dddddddddddd Ivanovic ousted top-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany 7-5, 6-3. Muguruza had beaten Wozniacki in their two previous encounters, in the third round of the Australian Open in January and in Miami last year. Wozniacki broke Muguuzas serve five times but lost hers four times in the two-and-half-hour match that featured plenty of long rallies. ' ' '
