Advertisement

PRO BASKETBALL / UPDATE : CLIPPERS : Maxwell Expected to Play in Game 4

Share via

Rocket guard Vernon Maxwell was cleared to return to action and is expected to fly from Houston to Los Angeles today and play Thursday in Game 4 of the playoff series against the Clippers.

Maxwell had sat out the final four games of the regular season and the first three games of the Clipper series because of a broken left wrist. The Rockets said the wrist was not completely healed, but that the process is far enough along to allow Maxwell to play with a splint.

That kind of injury normally keeps a player out six to eight weeks, but Maxwell would be back in only two if he plays Thursday.

Advertisement

Several Clippers credited their impressive showing in Game 2 in part to inspiration from critical comments made earlier that day on NBC by Bill Walton.

Monday, Walton was back as a Clipper broadcaster, working the game for Channel 13.

“In the past, there have been (discussions) between myself and the players for the things I had said this season,” Walton said, adding no one was happier about Saturday’s showing than he was. “I always tell them I’m the first guy in line willing and waiting to have my mind changed.”

Advertisement