Thunder will miss Mason
Lest anyone questions the value of Desmond Mason, the Thunder thriller against Memphis is Exhibit A.
Late in the third quarter of Wednesday night’s game — with the Thunder humming along and keeping the Grizzlies at double-digit arm’s length — Mason injured his knee. Seeing it live was enough to keep me from wanting to see it again in slow motion. Mason went up to try to block a breakaway dunk by Kyle Lowry, who ended up crashing into Mason’s lower body. It wasn’t intentional. It wasn’t dirty.
But it was ugly.
Mason’s knee buckled, and as soon as he landed on the Ford Center hardwood, he motioned to the Thunder bench. “Send the trainer, and make it snappy,” his look said.
He knew something was wrong.
Tests in the locker room would reveal that Mason hyper-extended his right knee, and Thursday, the team announced that he would miss the rest of the season.
Too bad for the Thunder. It needs Mason.
After he left the game Wednesday, the Thunder had another late-game letdown. When it had a fourth-quarter swoon Monday night against New Jersey, it was because the reserves were in. When Memphis outscored the Thunder 29-19 in the fourth quarter Wednesday, the impact of Mason’s absence was evident.
No way Memphis scores 29 points in the fourth quarter after only 14 in the third if Mason is out there. No way the Grizzlies force overtime after the Thunder controlled the first three quarters if Mason is available.
He adds a toughness that the Thunder lacked late against the Grizzlies.
Sure, the Thunder dominated overtime and won going away, but it doesn’t even need overtime if Mason is available. He’d have made a stop or hit a shot or done something to stem that fourth quarter tide.
Mason doesn’t get lots of headlines, but his importance to this improving squad was obvious Wednesday. It likely will be for the rest of the season.
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Jenni, you’re hot! That’s all I’ve got.