Pacific Notes: Clippers, Russell Westbrook, Lakers, Warriors

Clippers

Point guard Russell Westbrook said the Clippers’ game against the Lakers means little to him individually, but is a biggie as far as the Clippers are concerned as a team.

“Nothing for me,” Westbrook said, via Law Murray of The Athletic. “But it’s an important game for us collectively. It’s probably going to be an important game for them as well. So it’s just going to be a big game overall, making sure we’re ready to go. My job is to make sure us in the locker room are locked in and ready to compete.”

Center Ivica Zubac added that it’s not about Westbrook vs. the Lakers.

“It’s all about the team. It’s not about individuals’ performances, whoever, what you can get individually,” Zubac said, via Murray. “It’s all about team performance. It’s about getting a win that we need. And that’s everyone’s goals. That’s Russ’ goals, just to get a win.”

As Murray noted, this game marks the fourth time Westbrook has faced a former team.

Lakers

Star forward LeBron James played 38 minutes in the overtime win over the Jazz — the first time he’s played more than 32 since returning from a right foot tendon injury.

“The extra five minutes definitely didn’t help,” James said, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “It definitely didn’t help but we needed to get the win.”

James and forward/center Anthony Davis could play vs. the Clippers, despite the fact they have been limited in back-to-backs.

“How my foot feels when I wake up and I step out of bed,” James said of the possibility, via McMenamin. “That’s been the most important since I’ve injured it five weeks ago — the next day after either rehab or training or treatment, whatever. It’s always that.”

Coach Darvin Ham added it’s a matter of keeping things in perspective.

“We have our short-term business that we need to take care of and our long-term business that we need to take care of,” Ham told reporters. “We prioritize a player’s health, first and foremost. Regardless of what the stakes are or the implications of with a win or a loss or all of that. We need our players to know that we care about their health, first and foremost.”

Warriors

Small forward Andrew Wiggins is expected to return to the lineup, if not this week, then for the playoffs, as we relayed here.

Wiggins has been away from the Warriors since Feb. 13 for personal reasons.

“I don’t think it will be too long before I am out there,” Wiggins said, via Kendra Andrews of ESPN. 

While a report suggested that Wiggins’ father, former NBA guard Mitchell Wiggins, is dealing with an illness, Andrew Wiggins opted not to discuss specifics.

“I’d rather keep it private,” he said, via Andrews. “It’s for me and my family and people close to family.”