Help is on the way for the struggling Oklahoma City Thunder.
Injured superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook could each be nearing a return to the court. The news could not come at a better time for the Thunder, who sit at 3-12 and are last in the Western Conference.
Derrick Rose Returns To Action
Both stars practiced with the team on Monday, marking the first time either one of them has joined the team in practice since they suffered their respective injuries. Westbrook is on the mend following a broken hand, and Durant is working his way back from a stress fracture in his foot that has prevented him from playing in any games so far this season.
After practice, Thunder coach Scott Brooks told the media, "They did participate and looked good." He later added, "This week, I don't know what day, they'll get evaluated and we'll go from there. They'll continue to go through this process and when they're ready - 100 percent ready - they'll play."
The Knicks Are 'Really Embarrassing'
Reports indicate that Westbrook is the more likely of the two stars to take the court on Friday when the Thunder host the 4-11 New York Knicks.
The return of even one of their two best players would be a welcome sight for the Thunder, who need to start winning games soon if they hope to make the playoffs in an ultra-competitive Western Conference. It's not unthinkable that it will require at least 50 wins to make the playoffs in the West, meaning the Thunder would have to go 47-20 over the rest of the season.
Without their two stars, the Thunder currently feature the least-potent offense in the entire league, averaging an anemic 89.6 points per game. Even the hapless Philadelphia 76ers, who are actively tanking, feature a better scoring average, and they are 0-14 on the year.
Below you can see highlights of the Thunder's recent loss to the Golden state Warriors, when they scored just 86 points.
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