Paul away from team following Bryant's death
Thunder point guard Chris Paul was away from the team Monday night for what was officially listed as personal reasons.
Paul's absence came a day after the tragic death of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.
The Thunder was without Paul for the first time this season in its 107-97 loss to the Mavericks.
“Listen, it' s hard for me to talk about somebody that didn't play the game or how he would've impacted the game,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. “We had more than enough to go out there and compete.”
Paul and Bryant played against each other for 11 NBA seasons. They were Team USA teammates. They would have been Laker teammates had late NBA commissioner David Stern not vetoed a trade between the Lakers and New Orleans Hornets in 2011.
Donovan said he's had several conversations with Paul since news broke Sunday that Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash.
"I'd like to keep our conversations private," Donovan said. "That's kind of between Chris and I. But he's doing fine. It's a personal day for him."
Thunder guard Sh ai Gilgeous-Alexander entered the arena Monday night wearing Bryant's gold No. 8 Lakers jersey — the number Bryant wore early in his career.
"A lot of these guys know him personally,” Donovan said. “I f guys are younger, he was certainly a guy that they looked up to. So, I think everybody's impacted. I think everyone deals with that in their own personal way. But it was just a sad day all the way around with the game losing an iconic player, a true champion, a true competitor."
Gilgeous-Alexander's mini slump
Gilgeous- Alexander shot just 5-of-20 (25%) from the floor as he tried to shoulder the offensive load without Paul.
“He' s obviously had an incredible year and he's played well,” Donovan said, “but this is one of those moments that he can really learn from.”
Gilgeous- Alexander shot 3-of-14 (21%) Sunday night at Minnesota.
Gilgeous-Alexander chipped in with 11 rebounds and four assists Monday despite his shooting struggles.
Long-range Luka
Mavericks star Luka Doncic devastated the Thunder with deep step-back 3-pointers.
The second-year guard scored a game-high 29 points thanks to a 5-of-12 mark from behind the arc.
The Thunder made 12-of30 3-point attempts, shooting better from behind the arc than inside it.
Injury report
Thunder center Nerlens Noel checked into the game wearing a cl ear protective mask.
Noel underwent surgery over the weekend to repair a fracture in his cheekbone. He missed just one game.
Noel scored nine points and secured eight rebounds in 19 minutes against the Mavericks.
Thunder guards Terrance Ferguson and Abdel Nader did not play Monday night.
Ferguson, out for person al reasons, has missed the Thunder's last six games. The 6-foot-6 forward hasn't played since Jan. 17.
Nader has missed the last eight games with a left ankle sprain.
Tip-ins
Isaiah Roby was available for the Thunder for the first time since being traded to OKC on Friday … The Thunder has s hot 41- of- 44 ( 93%) f r om the free throw line in its last two games … Deonte Burton played a season-high 23 minutes. He scored 11 points.