Forward Sam Dekker’s recovery from a broken hand is on track.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Rockets forward Sam Dekker will have his left hand examined Monday, three weeks since his surgery to repair a fracture, in hopes he will have a better idea about a timetable to return.
Dekker had seven screws and a plate inserted into his hand and said he was told to expect a recovery of four to six weeks. He has been shooting this week but not catching passes with his left hand.
“So far, everything is feeling the way we would hope,” Dekker said Friday. “That feels good to do something a little normal. I see the doctor on Monday. Hopefully, we can progress from there and get a better timetable on what we think will happen. If there is any indication I can get back, I will do anything I can.
“Movement’s coming back. Every day is feeling better. I just have to stay on top of it.”
Dekker had been the power forward off the bench. He was not replaced in the rotation, with starting small forward Trevor Ariza playing power forward with the second unit.
“Pretty difficult (to sit out),” said Dekker, who missed almost all of his rookie year with back surgery. “It’s a freak accident. It’s not like I did something wrong. I want to be out there so bad, especially in big games. I love big games, getting out there and playing and helping the guys.
“I’m going to stay engaged, stay locked in, watch film, be a good teammate. Hopefully sooner or later I can be back out there with them.”
Thunder thrive with fast breaks
As important as pace is to the Rockets’ style, the Thunder have been far less hesitant to try to slow the game than other Rockets opponents.
The Thunder have a good reason for looking to fast break.
“For us, in my opinion, we have the best transition guard in the NBA,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said of Russell Westbrook. “On missed shots, we need to let Russell be who he is and who he’s been all year long. You don’t want to at some point from a tempo or pace standpoint start to play a style that is different from what you’ve done all year long and put him in a situation where’s he not able to do the things that made him who he is.
“There’s no question there is a balance there. But I feel like on missed shots, we’re a team that needs to look in transition.”
The Rockets held the Thunder to 16 fast-break points in each of the first two games, but allowed 12 in the first half Wednesday, offering a reminder of the importance of transition defense in the series.
“First game we did real well; second game we did a lot less,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “That’s a key for us. First half we didn’t do a good job the second game. It’s one of those things we point out.”
Coaches relate Marshall ties
Until the Rockets were matched up in a series with the Thunder, Mike D’Antoni did not know Thunder coach Billy Donovan spent two seasons coaching at D’Antoni’s alma mater, Marshall University.
But Donovan was aware of D’Antoni’s Marshall career.
“He should be,” D’Antoni said. “He coached at Marshall. I don’t think he invited me back.”
D’Antoni has ties to the Marshall program with his brother Dan taking over as coach in 2014. Donovan coached the Thundering Herd in the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons.
“Obviously, he was a legendary player,” Donovan said. “He has a huge name and a great career there.”
Noted D’Antoni: “He’s buttering me up.”
Westbrook fined for bad language
Russell Westbrook is fine with getting fined.
The Thunder star was fined $15,000 by the NBA on Friday for using inappropriate language during a postgame interview after Wednesday’s loss.
“If you cuss, you get fined, so if somebody else cuss, make sure when they cuss … I hope they get fined, too,” Westbrook said. “It is what it is. I’m OK with it.”