OKC Thunder 3 keys: Bazley encore potential given Pacers decimated frontcourt

In what has become a common trend through recent matches the OKC Thunder will face a team missing several core contributors due to injury.

Last week OKC played the Pistons without Jerami Grant, Hamidou Diallo, or Wayne Ellington playing. Versus the Raptors, Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and OG Anunoby were out.

Meanwhile, the team kept pace with the Wizards in spite of Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal both playing.

With this match, the Thunder again won’t likely get to face former Thunder teammates as Domantas Sabonis and Doug McDermott are both sidelined with injuries.

OKC Thunder 3 keys versus Indiana Pacers

Indiana is in the thick of the Eastern Conference play-in battle currently seeded ninth, two games back of the Hornets and two games up on the Wizards and Bulls (2.5 on the Raptors). The Pacers failed to capitalize on a prime opportunity as the Hornets dropped from fourth to eighth losing five of their last six matches. Instead, Indiana lost four of their last five matches and remained two games back.

Timing is everything as the injury news coming out of Indiana and Charlotte favors the Hornets. Rookie LaMelo Ball got his cast off this week so may return before season end. Conversely, the Pacers have lost big man Myles Turner indefinitely with a tear to the plantar plate in his big toe

Meanwhile, the OKC Thunder has extended their current losing streak to 11 games in a row. The absence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is palpable with OKC losing 14 of the 15 games he’s been out.

OKC Thunder key No. 1 – Limit the Pacers guards

The NBA injury report states Lu Dort is questionable with the hip strain that kept him out on Monday in Washington. Yet if we’ve learned anything this season it’s not to trust the injury reports as gospel. Countless times players who weren’t on the initial report ended up sidelined. Alternatively, there are numerous occasions when players returned without notice (like Dort and Bazley last week).

If Dort dresses no doubt he’ll be tasked with keeping Caris LeVert and Malcolm Brogdon in check. Without Dort, that’s a big task for rookie Theo Maledon and likely Kenrich Williams.

LeVert is one of the feel-good stories of the young season. As part of the four-team James Harden trade, the mandatory physical conducted to complete the trade likely saved LeVert’s life. A small mass was found on his left kidney. He subsequently underwent surgery to address the renal cell carcinoma and made a quick return to the hardwood.

In 21 appearances with the Pacers, LeVert is averaging 18.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.6 steals. He’s yet to rediscover his 3-point range shooting an abysmal 29.2 percent.

Also, keep an eye on reserve guard TJ McConnell. He’s a pesky player who’ll pressure full-court and is among the steals leaders.