KD Says Russ Will Play Thursday

In an interview taped Friday morning in New Orleans with ESPN's Bill Simmons, for a special "BS Report" video on the GrantlandTV website, Durant said his sidekick will be back this week.

In the video Simmons asked Durant, "when's Russell coming back?"  "Next game, right after the All-Star break against Miami," Durant answers.

That Thursday game has long been speculated as Westbrook's return to the Thunder lineup.

The original timetable given by the Thunder after Westbrook's third knee surgery was sometime after the All-Star break.

OKC's first game back is Thursday at home against the Heat on national TV.

The Thunder have not commented on the video.

It's been reported that Westbrook will be fully evaluated by the Thunder medical staff tomorrow. If he passes all the tests he should then be cleared to play.

Westbrook has stepped up his workouts lately, but when asked about Westbrook's status last Sunday before the Knicks game, Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said even though Westbrook continues to progress he had not yet practiced with the team, just done his daily workouts either before or after the regular Thunder practice sessions.

The Thunder are scheduled to practice tomorrow and perhaps an official announcement, one way or the other, will come then.