Game Preview: OKC Thunder seek to continue home cooking vs. Knickerbockers
By Alex Mcewen
Predicted Line-ups
OKC Thunder Starters:
Point Guard: Dennis Schroder
Shooting Guard: Terrance Ferguson
Small Forward: Paul George
Power Forward: Jerami Grant
Center: Steven Adams
Russell Westbrook is doing “more and more each day day,” as Billy Donovan often says. But the Thunder didn’t do any real contact today, so we didn’t get much of a sense of his availability for tomorrow.
— Brett Dawson (@BDawsonWrites) November 13, 2018
OKC Thunder Bench
Point Guard: Raymond Felton
Shooting Guard: Alex Abrines, Hamidou Diallo, Deonte Burton
Small Forward: Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Abdel Nader
Power Forward: Patrick Patterson
Center: Nerlens Noel, Tyler Davis
Injury notes/Suspensions:
- Russell Westbrook: Suffered a high ankle sprain against the New Orleans Pelicans on November 5. As per Royce Young’s tweet the game notes list him out. Furthermore, Brett Dawson suggests he is nearing a return, but no confirm date is listed.
Russell Westbrook once again listed as out in the game notes for tomorrow’s game against the Knicks.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) November 13, 2018
- Andre Roberson: Will be out until December/January at a minimum (patellar tendon – rehab from suture removal to the same knee) However, recent injury update news suggests he is progressing well as per Erik Horne of the Oklahoman:
Thunder trainers putting Andre Roberson through full-court conditioning. Non-contact. Roberson scheduled to be re-evaluated in early December. pic.twitter.com/HYudDlgiOy
— Erik Horne (@ErikkHorne) November 12, 2018
New York Knicks Starters
Point Guard: Frank Ntilikina
Shooting Guard: Tim Hardaway Jr.
Small Forward: Damyean Dotson
Power Forward: Noah Vonleh
Center: Mitchell Robinson
New York Knicks Bench
Point Guard: Trey Burke, Emmanuel Mudiay, Ron Baker
Shooting Guard:
Small Forward: Kevin Knox, Mario Hezonja, Allonzo Trier
Power Forward: Isaiah Hicks
Center: Enes Kanter
Injury notes/Suspensions:
- Lance Thomas (arthroscopic surgery – left knee) No definitive timetable for his return.
- Courtney Lee (neck spasms) questionable.
- Kristaps Porzingis (surgery to repair a torn ACL in left knee) with expected return date of February.
Game Specifics:
Recent History:
All-Time, the OKC Thunder lead 20-6 against the Knickerbockers, and OKC is 7-3 in the past 10 games.
Fan Data:
The Venue: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The Tip: 7:00 PM CT (8:00 EST)
TV: Fox Sports Oklahoma and NBA League Pass
Radio: Oklahoma City – WWLS 98.1FM OKC / 930AM (ESP) and League Pass Audio
Prediction:
Tonight the OKC Thunder will improve to 6-2 at home and secure their ninth win of the season. PG and Adams will build off their strong performance against the Suns and if Westbrook returns the crowd will be extra hyped, further increasing the likelihood OKC walks out of their building with a victory.
Next. When Steven Adams dictates offense OKC flourishes. dark
Enjoy the game this evening Thunder Nation and if you are in attendance be loud, give former Stache Brother Enes Kanter a standing ovation and Thunder Up!