Nader provides bench boost as Schröder leaves bubble
Thunder point guard Dennis Schröder has left the NBA bubble for the birth of his second child, coach Billy Donovan announced Monday before tip-off against the Nuggets.
Schröder, in mid-July, said he planned to be with his wife, Ellen, when the time came.
“It happened this morning, so he's with his family at this point in time,” Donovan said.
“I'll have a chance probably to talk to him and find out a little bit more, if it's not later today or tomorrow. Right now, for at least this game, he'll be out. We'll probably be able to gather some more information once we get a chance to spend a little more time with him over the phone.”
Players can leave the NBA bubble for excused absences, including the birth of a child. Players who leave for excused absences must quarantine for four days upon returning to the Disney complex as long as they test negative for the coronavirus each day they were off campus, according to the NBA's health and safety protocols document.
“For me it's tough,” Schröder said. “I love my teammates, I love basketball, but family comes first all the time.”
Schröder will almost certainly miss multiple games. The Thunder has six seeding games remaining through Aug. 14.
Schröder, a Sixth Man of the Year candidate, is averaging 18.9 points per game off the Thunder's bench. He's shooting a career-high 46.9% from the floor this season.
Boost off the bench
The Thunder will need a spark off its bench with Schröder gone.
Abdel Nader provided one Monday afternoon.
After only playing mopup minutes in the season restart Saturday, Nader scored 13 points in 13 minutes against the Nuggets. He shot 5-of-6 from the floor and 3-of-4 from 3-point range.
Big problem
While small-ball is the NBA trend, Denver is going in the opposite direction.
“It was a huge size advantage,” Donovan said after the game. “They had Jerami Grant at times at the two-guard spot. They were playing (Nikola) Jokic and (Mason) Plumlee together. ( Paul) Millsap's out t here. They're a very, very big, long, physical team.”
Donovan didn't even mention 6-foot-10 forward Michael Porter Jr. and 7-foot-2 rookie Bol Bol, who's more comfortable on the perimeter than in the paint.
Denver outscored Oklahoma City 50-28 in the paint. The Thunder shot 1-of-9 at the rim in the first half and finished 9-of-22. Meanwhile, the Nuggets converted 21-of-28 shots at the rim.
Injury update
Thunder center Mike Muscala drew an offensive foul against Nuggets guard P.J. Dozier late in the first quarter. Muscala hit his face on the court as he fell, and it appeared he sustained a cut above his eye.
Muscala did not return with what the team called “concussion symptoms.”
Thunder guard Terrance Ferguson did not play due to a leg contusion.
“I think just giving him another day to rest, the medical staff thought that would be really, really good,” Donovan said.
The Nuggets were in worse shape. Denver was without three starters: Jamal Murray (left hamstring), Gary Harris (right hip) and Will Barton (left knee).
Joe Mussatto, Staff writer