OKC Thunder – Atlanta game preview: Dennis Schroder seeks revenge and Trae Young returns home

Projected Line-ups

OKC Thunder Starters:

Point Guard: Russell Westbrook
Shooting Guard: Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot
Small Forward: Paul George
Power Forward: Jerami Grant
Center:  Steven Adams

Editor’s note: Since Ferguson and Diallo’s injuries Donovan has started Schroder versus Charlotte, Luwawu-Cabarrot versus Denver and Abrines versus Cleveland. Any of the three could get the nod or Donovan could elect to go with Burton.

Presumably, it won’t be Schroder in order to help the reserve unit continue to gel and improve. Similarly, there will be a desire to get Abrines minutes and reps to get his shot falling, but Donovan will likely opt to pair him with Schroder to hasten their chemistry.

OKC Thunder Bench

Point Guard: Dennis Schroder, Raymond Felton
Shooting Guard: Alex Abrines, Deonte Burton
Small Forward: Abdel Nader
Power Forward: Patrick Patterson
Center: Nerlens Noel

Injury Notes:

Terrance Ferguson: High ankle sprain, is currently listed as out.

Hamidou Diallo: High ankle sprain, is currently listed as out. Both Diallo and T-Ferg are being re-evaluated daily.

Andre Roberson: Rehabbing from his third surgery on his left knee, stemming from a ruptured left patellar tendon. Dre is beginning to do more each day and is set to be re-evaluated in early December.

Atlanta Hawks Starters

Point Guard: Trae Young
Shooting Guard: Kevin Huerter
Small Forward: Taurean Prince
Power Forward: John Collins
Center: Dewayne Dedmon*

Atlanta Hawks Bench

Point Guard: Kent Bazemore
Shooting Guard: Justin Anderson, Daniel Hamilton
Small Forward: DeAndre’ Bembry, Vince Carter,
Power Forward: Omari Spellman,
Center: Miles Plumlee, Alex Len,

Injury Notes:

Jaylen Adams: Undisclosed, was inactive in the Hawks last game and is a game-time decision tonight.

Dewayne Dedmon: Ankle soreness, he is probable.

Alex Poythress: Ankle, has been out since November 17 and is out tonight.

Jeremy Lin: Ankle, missed the Hawks last contest vs. the Hornets and is questionable tonight.

Tyler Dorsey: Bruise, has been out since November 21 and is expected to be out until December 3, 2018.

*Injury note via CBSSports.com

Game Specifics

Recent History:

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

All-time the Thunder are 12-7 vs. the Hawks. OKC is 7-3 in the last ten games against Atlanta.

Fan Data:

The Venue: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The Tip: 7:00 PM CST (8:00 EST)
TV: Fox Sports Oklahoma
Radio: Oklahoma City – WWLS 98.1FM OKC / 930AM (ESP) and League Pass Audio

Prediction:

The Thunder will continue to roll against lower-tier teams, improving their record to 11-4 against inferior competition. Schroder will shine vs. his former squad, Adams will have a bounce-back game after his sub par performance vs. the Cavaliers.

Last, but not the least, Young will pick apart the Thunder defense in much the same fashion as Colin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson did Wednesday night. And, similarly to the Cavalier guards  Young’s display will not be enough to defeat the Thunder.

Enjoy the game Thunder Nation, if you will be in attendance this evening be safe, have fun, get loud, and Thunder Up!