Hornets 108, Thunder 90
Observations, news and notes from Saturday’s game………
* First to the biggest news of the evening, a Kevin Durant update. Durant is hoping to play Wednesday at Denver. He told me after the game that if he doesn’t play against Denver he definitely will play Saturday against Phoenix.
“I’m getting better,” Durant said. ”Right now it’s still a little sore when I wake up in the morning. We’re trying to get that out. But as of right now it’s getting better. Only thing I can’t do is probably run as fast as I used to. I just can’t sprint. I’m jumping on it a little bit but other than that I’m alright.”
Durant shot jumpers before the game for the second straight game, showing his shooting touch is still there even despite the gimpy ankle.
* Jeff Green also took part in light shooting before the game. He said Friday that he wanted to play Wednesday against the Wizards and felt good enough to play tonight. Thunder coach Scott Brooks said he’ll be a game-time decision for Sunday’s game at Phoenix but it doesn’t look like he’ll play.
* Thabo Sefolosha tested his sprained left knee about an hour before the game and was thinking he could go before he and the training staff decided it was best for him to sit out. It looks like he’ll be out against Phoenix as well.
* Robert Swift did not travel with the team due to personal reasons. It’s unclear if he’ll be with the team against the 76ers.
* Where does that all leave the Thunder? With eight healthy bodies and likely the same mix-and-match bunch we saw tonight for at least one more game.
* Oh yeah, that’s assuming that hard fall Kyle Weaver had at the end of the game doesn’t flare up in the morning. Weaver said he fell on his rear end and had the wind knocked out of him, which is why he couldn’t get up. But other than normal soreness, he said the injury shouldn’t be serious.
* The Thunder took 22 3-pointers tonight without its best 3-point shooters available. Huh? Brooks said he was OK with that since they were playing against a smaller lineup and he felt the shots were open.
* Tyson Chandler finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. I was never able to catch up to him before or after the game to discuss the rescinded trade. But here’s what he had to say in today’s Times-Picayune.
* One game after I thought it wise to give Chucky Atkins minutes, he comes out and misses five of six 3-pointers. Go figure.
* Nenad Krstic struggled to knock down anything tonight, and Chandler played volleyball on the glass against him although the final stat sheet doesn’t show it. Krstic finished with six boards.
* The Thunder shot just 39.8 percent.
* I understand Nick Collison is a blue-collar player who is all about hustle. But two shot attempts?
-DM-
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Do you know if Jeff Green is going to play today?
Thanks,
Matt Kersey