MINNEAPOLIS — Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook tested out of the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols and is available to play against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, the team announced.
Westbrook flew from Dallas to Minneapolis Friday after testing out of the protocols, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Westbrook was placed in the health and safety protocols following the Lakers’ 107-104 overtime road win against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. For a player to be cleared from the protocols, he must return two negative tests 24 hours apart.
L.A. will still be without Avery Bradley, Talen Horton-Tucker and Dwight Howard for the Wolves game because of health and safety protocols, according to the team.
Like Westbrook, Malik Monk was cleared to fly from Los Angeles to Minneapolis to join the team for Friday night’s game, but ultimately was not cleared to play, sources told ESPN.
The Lakers announced that Kendrick Nunn, who has been out all season with a bone bruise in his knee, has also entered the health and safety protocols.
L.A. already traveled two-way players Chaundee Brown and Jay Huff to join the team on the road trip and announced Friday that Trevor Ariza, who has missed all season following ankle surgery in the preseason, has been upgraded to questionable for the Wolves game and will be in uniform. Ariza, however, would only be played in the game should L.A. run out of eligible bodies to finish the contest.