Russell Westbrook (rest) to miss first game of season tonight vs. T'Wolves
Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook will miss his first game of the season Tuesday night.
The MVP frontrunner, who passed Oscar Robertson for the most single-season triple-doubles in NBA history (42) on Sunday, will rest for the Thunder's tilt with the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to coach Billy Donovan.
"He's played 80 games. He's been unbelievable in the way he's played, the way he's led," Donovan told reporters after the team's shootaround. "This was a game that, sitting down and talking to him and the medical staff, this was an opportunity."
Last month, Westbrook took a strong stance against the NBA's resting trend, which commissioner Adam Silver recently deemed the biggest issue facing the NBA today.
"It's just a goal to play if I'm healthy," Westbrook said. "Like I said before, I never take this game for granted to come out every night and be able to compete at a high level. If I'm asked to sit down or asked to rest, I want it to be my decision if I want to rest or not. Until I (don't) feel that way, I'm going to play as long as I'm able to play."
The Thunder (46-34) have two regular-season games left, but are locked in at the No. 6 seed in the West and can't move up or down in the standings. They will face the Houston Rockets in the first round.
"At the end of the day, he was the one who also thought that this would be a good day (to rest)," Donovan said. "Our medical staff agreed with him that this would be a great opportunity to get some rest."
Oklahoma City's Andre Roberson and Taj Gibson will miss the game for rest as well.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.