THUNDER JOURNAL: The Thunder needs Alex Abrines,
The Thunder needs Alex Abrines.
Billy Donovan knows it, which is why the coach opted to start the shooting guard against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday in place of injured Paul George. The hope was that a start would give Abrines a jump-start.
“My feeling is that Alex needs to help our team, and trying to find ways to get him going would be positive for our team,” Donovan said after the Thunder’s 97-95 loss. “That’s why I kind of started him.”
Instead, the move seemed to provide a lift to the Bucks. They outscored the Thunder by 24 points while Abrines was on the floor in the first quarter, and he didn’t return. Instead, Donovan turned to Josh Huestis.
In 7 second-quarter minutes, Huestis committed three fouls. He went to the bench after the third, but the Thunder outscored the Bucks by seven while he was on the court.
That was enough to earn Huestis a second-half start and a career-high 28 minutes.
“My feeling is that Alex needs to help our team, and trying to find ways to get him going would be positive for our team. ”
Billy Donovan
Though he struggled to defend without fouling, Huestis gave a good effort on Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds and made 10 of 16 shots.
Huestis used his strength and moved his feet. On one second quarter play, with Antetokounmpo driving hard to the basket, Huestis gave a strong contest and forced a missed layup.
Huestis finished with five points.
“I was hopeful that Josh’s length could create some problems,” Donovan said. “He can rebound the ball. He can do some different things. I thought Josh did a really good job tonight with the minutes he was given.”
George uncertain for Sunday
George missed part of Thursday’s practice, Donovan said, complaining of soreness in his left knee. He did only light shooting at Friday’s morning shootaround, where the OKC staff informed Donovan that George was unavailable to play.
Donovan said he “just kind of focused on our team” on Friday and didn’t have any update before Friday’s game on George’s status for Saturday’s practice or Sunday’s home game against the Dallas Mavericks.
“I really trust our medical staff, so we’ll see where he’s at tomorrow,” Donovan said.
With Friday’s loss to the Bucks, the Thunder fell to 1-2 this season in games without George. He missed two games earlier this month with a right calf contusion — a Thunder loss to the Brooklyn Nets in Mexico City and a win at Memphis.
Ferguson returns
With George out, the Thunder recalled Terrance Ferguson from the Oklahoma City Blue, the team’s G League affiliate. Ferguson had been assigned to the G League on Thursday and had been expected to play in the Blue’s road game Friday against the Salt Lake City Stars.
Westbrook milestone
With 4:12 to play in the first quarter on Friday, Russell Westbrook made his second bucket of the night.
That pushed him past 16,000 career points, making him the 113th player in NBA history to surpass that number. Westbrook finished the game with 40 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists.