Ferguson misses second game with hip contusion

PORTLAND—For the second consecutive game, Abdel Na der started in Terrance Ferguson's (right hip soreness) place Sunday.

“We need him,” Donovan said of Na der ,“to keep him ready, keep giving him confidence.”

Nader scored the Thunder's first points of the game. He drew a foul while driving to the rim and made both the resulting free throws.

For the second straight game, OKC is short on wing depth. Hamidou Dial lo remains sidelined by a hyperextension sprain in his right elbow. He is scheduled to be evaluated in another two to four weeks. In addition, on Saturday the Thunder assigned Deonte Burton to its G League affiliate, the OKC Blue.

OKC has assigned Burton to the Blue for two other games this season, in which he averaged 19 points, six rebounds and five assists. He missed the Thunder's overtime victory against Minnesota while serving a one-game suspension for “conduct detrimental to the team.”

Donovan said Burton is with the Blue to get more minutes, not because of the locker room altercation he was reportedly suspended for.

“That' s over and done with,” Donovan said. “I think for us, and I think we've talked about really since the beginning of the year, the biggest thing for our team, especially our younger players is trying to help these guys develop.”

Two-way contract players Luguentz Dort and Devon Hall both made the trip to Portland to provide more options at wing.

Donovan said he anticipates Ferguson will sit out Monday at Utah as well.

“I think they're really trying to get some time where that can quiet down,” Donovan said. “And I think what they don't want to do is put him in a position where potentially he re-aggravates his hip and it sets him back even further.”

The same injury sidelined Ferguson against the Timberwolves on Friday. This season, the defensive stopper is averaging 26 minutes in 19 starts.

Blazers' Hood sidelined

Rodney Hood was absent from the Trail Blazer's lineup Sunday, after tearing his left Achilles tendon in Portland's game against the Lakers on Friday.

Several Thunder pl ayers posted their support on social media that night.

“Prayers up @rodneyhood,” read a post on Chris Paul's verified Twitter account.

Andre Roberson sent a similar tweet.

Said Donovan on Sunday: “I feel bad for him because I've known him ever since he was in high school, and he was a great kid. And you hate to see someone's season end with an injury like that.”

Hood was shooting a careerhigh 49.3% from 3- point range before suffering the injury. In the Thunder's 136119 loss to the Trail Blazers a week and a half ago, he shot 4-of-4 from beyond the arc.

Tip-ins

The officials issued two technical fouls in the first half of Sunday's game. The first was on the Thunder bench, and the second on Portland's Carmelo Anthony… The Thunder limited Dam ian Lilla rd to eight points on 2- of- 8 shooting in the first half.