Grant steps up again in Adams’ absence

ATLANTA — Steven Adams eagerly signed autographs for fans reaching over the railing at Phillips Arena when a ball came flying into his arms.

It slipped out of the fan’s hand. Ever the sportsman, Adams politely handed it back. It was the last time he’d touch a ball Tuesday night in Atlanta.

With Adams ruled inactive with a left hip contusion Tuesday, Dakari Johnson received his sixth start of the season, but was a placeholder at the center spot, playing just seven minutes during Oklahoma City's 119-107 victory over the Hawks.

Thunder coach Billy Donovan said Adams’ left ankle he sprained against the Spurs on Saturday was fine, but it was the hip that was bothering the 7-footer. Adams has a day to rest before the Clippers come to Oklahoma City on Friday.

He’ll be needed, because the Thunder’s interior defense was in tatters without Adams in the first half against Atlanta.

The Hawks shot 57.7 percent in the paint in the first half before Donovan elected to start Jerami Grant in the second half, when the Thunder’s interior defense tightened up.

Grant responded in a huge way, scoring 15 of his 20 points in the second half to go with five rebounds and two drawn charges, taking his tally to 17 on the season.

With Grant playing the entire third quarter, the Thunder only allowed 8-of-22 shooting to the Hawks and only put Atlanta to the line twice after allowing 18 free throws attempts in the first half.

Fifteen of those free throws came in the second quarter when Donovan went to Nick Collison and the veteran committed a shooting foul within 21 seconds of coming in. The Thunder was tied 43-43 when Grant was subbed out for Collison. By the time he returned at 3:37, the Thunder trailed by six.

Melo not resting

So much for that Carmelo

Anthony rest plan.

Anthony played on the second night of back-toback after sitting out the back end of the Thunder’s last back-to-back in Portland.

“I think he feels good right now at this point and time,” Donovan said. “When he’s feeling good we obviously want him to play. He helps our team.”

And Anthony started slow, 2-of-7 from the field, before exploding for 12 points on four 3-pointers in a span of five minutes in the fourth quarter.

Anthony finished with 21 points for his second consecutive 20-point game. Anthony hadn’t scored 20 points in consecutive games since Jan. 17 and 20 in wins against the Lakers and Cavaliers.

Russ from 3, OKC from 3

Westbrook is muchmaligned for his shot selection from 3-point range considering his career (31 percent) and season (28.5) percentages, but he’s shown greater discretion this season.

But Westbrook has shown greater discretion from three this season with the addition of George and Anthony. Entering Tuesday’s game, he was down to 4.2 attempts per game, his lowest average since 2012-13, when he shot 3.7 per game.

After attempting four or more 3-pointers five times in a six-span, Westbrook only attempted four during the Thunder’s three-game winning streak.

Westbrook did not attempt a 3-pointer on Tuesday but assisted on four of the Thunder’s 16 3-pointers.

“He understands that a lot of these teams are really trying to load up and protect the deep paint, and they’re wanting him to take those shots,” Donovan said. “So, it’s almost like, ‘Hey, we’re gonna live with something.’ And I think he’s done a great job here of late of getting into the lane and recognizing, ‘OK, these teams are loading up, and now what I gotta do is spray it around and find people,’ I just think he’s evaluating how our group is being defended.”