Russell Westbrook out vs. Knicks with sore thumb

Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook, who is nursing a sore left thumb, will miss Monday's home game against the New York Knicks.

Westbrook attended the memorial service for Kobe Bryant earlier in the day in Los Angeles, but he made it back to the arena in Houston about an hour before tip time. He was scratched from the lineup about 15 minutes before the game.

Eric Gordon started in place of Westbrook vs. the Knicks, who have lost three in a row. The Rockets, at 36-20, begin the night in the No. 4 playoff spot in the Western Conference. Gordon joined James Harden,Danuel House Jr., Robert Covington and P.J. Tucker in the starting lineup.

Westbrook is averaging 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.2 assists this season (47 games).