Thunder-Rockets playoff schedule.
Thunder guard Luguentz Dort sustained a right knee sprain Wednesday night against the Heat, the Thunder announced Thursday.
Dort exited the game after colliding with Miami forward Jae Crowder in the first quarter.
Dort has been ruled out for the Thunder's final seeding game Friday against the Clippers. He will be considered day-today after that, according to a team spokesman.
The undrafted rookie has started the last 28 games for the Thunder. If healthy, he's likely to defend James Harden in the Thunder's series against the Rockets.
Thunder point guards Chris Paul and Dennis Schroder will also be out Friday.
Paul is out with a left hand sprain, and Schroder remains in self isolation after returning to the bubble following the birth of his daughter.
"Any time a player comes back into the bubble, those are gonna be things that are gonna be left to the league and their discretion in terms of the things that Dennis will have to go through to get out of quarantine and get back to playing," Thunder coach Billy Donovan said.
Schroder hasn't played since the Thunder's restart opener Aug. 1 against the Jazz.
Muscala's 3-pointer gave meaning to the game
Mike Muscala set his feet on the right wing and rattled in a 3-pointer that suddenly gave meaning to a game that didn't mean all that much just minutes before.
The jubilation gamewinning shots typically bring instead led to unease for Thunder fans. Some were happy with the Thunder's 116-115 comeback victory against the Heat. Some were upset with the loss wrapped within the win.
The consequences of Muscala's shot Wednesday brought clarity to a bigger picture.
With the win, the Thunder guaranteed a first-round playoff series against the Rockets — a team most in the West would rather avoid. The win also guaranteed that the 76ers will receive the Thunder's 2020 firstround draft pick.
In November 2016, OKC acquired Jerami Grant in a trade with Philadelphia. The 76ers received the Thunder's 2020 firstround pick, but with a top-20 protection. That pick will now fall outside the top-20, meaning the 76ers will own it.
The Thunder still has a first-round pick, courtesy of Denver, through a trade last summer that involved none other than Grant.
Muscala certainly wasn't assessing those scenarios as he rose into his shot, and his make likely sped up the inevitable.
“It'll be interesting,” Chris Paul said of facing his former team. “Two teams that know a lot about each other. We'll prepare, get ready and we'll see what's what.”
Schroder's timeline
Thunder point guard Dennis Schroder returned to the bubble Monday night and is currently in mandatory self isolation.
Donovan said Wednesday that he didn't know if Schroder will be available Friday for the Thunder's final seeding game.
"Any time a player comes back into the bubble, those are gonna be things that are gonna be left to the league and their discretion in terms of the things that Dennis will have to go through to get out of quarantine and get back to playing," Donovan said.
Schroder left the bubble for the birth of his daughter. Players who leave the Disney campus for excused absences, like Schroder's, are expected to quarantine for four days upon returning as long as they tested negative for COVID-19 each day they were away.
Schroder hasn't played since the Thunder's restart opener Aug. 1 against the Jazz.
Westbrook's return uncertain
Russell Westbrook is expected to miss the "first few games" of the Thunder-Rockets series next week and "possibly longer," according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
The Rockets announced Wednesday that an MRI revealed a strained quadriceps muscle in Westbrook's right leg.
Westbrook has already been ruled out for Houston's final seeding game Friday.
The former Thunder star is averaging 27.2 points, 7.9 rebound and 7.0 assists in his first season with the Rockets.
Paul salutes Langston
Paul continued his salute to Historically Black Colleges and Universities on Wednesday, keeping it close to home.
Paul entered the arena wearing a Langston University hat and shirt, then debuted a new design of his own shoes with "Langston" printed on the side of each.
Langston, located about 40 miles north of Oklahoma City, is the only HBCU in the state.
"I had an opportunity to go over there a few times when I was younger in my career," Paul said of Langston. "I went to a few activities my rookie year and my second year when I played in Oklahoma (for the Hornets). Big shoutout to Langston University.
"Once again, just trying to bring awareness."