OKC Thunder: Three out for second preseason game vs Bucks

The OKC Thunder are set to take on the Milwaukee Bucks in their second preseason game of the 2021-22 NBA season. After nearly a week off since their preseason opener on Monday against the Charlotte Hornets, the Oklahoma City Thunder will be back in action for their first road trip of the year.

After another full week of practice, which featured an off day on Thursday, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault announced to the Media on Saturday afternoon ahead of Sunday’s preseason contest.

OKC Thunder Injury Report vs the Milwaukee Bucks in preseason game number two

The Oklahoma City Thunder will be without rookie Vit Krejci again for this contest. Vit Krejci is coming off an ACL tear a year ago, just before the OKC Thunder drafted him in the 2020 draft (acquired via trade with the Washington Wizards), it held him out of the entire season a year ago including the G-League Bubble, but Krejci was still in Oklahoma City rehabbing for the past year.

The Thunder officially bought out his overseas contract and inked him to an NBA deal ahead of the 2021-22 season. Vit Krejci is physically cleared to play, though the Oklahoma City Thunder are remaining cautious with the young wing managing his load during practice.

Vit Krejci is out tonight due to a visa issue and it is unclear when the issue will be resolved. The Oklahoma City Thunder dealt with this hurdle last year with Theo Maledon missing preseason games, and Gabriel Deck’s debut being delayed, for the same thing. Once the visa issues are resolved Vit Krejci should be active for the OKC Thunder if there are preseason games left at that time.

Derrick Favors, who has been in and out of practice since training camp began, is out tonight against the Bucks. Favors is listed as out with “return to competition reconditioning.” Mark Daigneault has stressed it is not a true knee injury, but rather knee maintenance, as the team tries to get the veteran back up to speed.

Kenrich Williams will miss his second straight game with a right great toe sprain, what was described as a bruise from the head ball coach on Monday, going as far to say in a regular-season game Williams would have probably played he is still on the sidelines for now.

For Williams, the preseason does not add much value. It is better to be overly cautious with players who have nothing to prove in the preseason, especially a player like Williams who will put his body on the line every game. Save some of those bruises for the regular season.