Russell Westbrook back Sunday
Updated: November 3, 2013, 5:40 PM ET
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook is in the starting lineup Sunday night against the visiting Phoenix Suns, the team said, putting him back in the rotation nearly a month ahead of schedule.
SportsNation: Russell Westbrook is back
SportsNationRussell Westbrook returned to the Thunder on Sunday, well ahead of schedule. When will he return to form? Vote! »
Russell passed all required physicals and rehab benchmarks to be cleared to play by doctors and other team officials.
"The process has been instrumental in getting Russell to this point," Thunder general manager Sam Presti said in a statement.
Westbrook first underwent surgery April 27 to repair torn cartilage in his knee and again on Oct. 1 to remove a loose stitch from the first operation. He was originally expected to miss four to six weeks of the regular season.
Westbrook started all 82 games for the Thunder last season, averaging 23.2 points and 7.4 assists per game. He suffered a tear in his right meniscus in Game 2 of the Thunder's first-round series with the Houston Rockets.
韋小寶復出
