Steven Adams cannot catch a break.
He suffered a right knee contusion during the first half of Oklahoma City’s loss to the Raptors on Jan. 15, missing Friday’s loss to the Heat before returning on Saturday against the Trail Blazers with a minutes restriction.
Adams was in the starting lineup on Monday, only to leave the game in the first quarter after being fouled hard by Clint Capela.
The play where Adams was injured happened with 10:24 to play in the first quarter. Off a missed 3-pointer by Danilo Gallinari, Adams was waiting for the rebound when he was undercut by Capela.
This did not look good. #Thunder pic.twitter.com/RtbKE1Glfd
— Nate Feken (@TheGreat_Nate) January 20, 2020
Adams fell awkwardly to the ground, in obvious pain.
Capels was assessed a flagrant foul, and though Adams hit the free throws, he was visibly limping and immediately went to the tunnel.
As tweeted by Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman, per the Thunder, Adams suffered a left ankle sprain and is questionable to return.
Steven Adams (left ankle sprain) is questionable to return, per the Thunder.
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) January 20, 2020
Lee also noted that in the absence of Nerlens Noel, who is out with a sore ankle, and without Justin Patton, who was reassigned to the OKC Blue, if Adams does not return, the Thunder will be reliant on Mike Muscala to be a presence in the middle of a small-ball lineup.
The Thunder assigned Patton to the Blue earlier today. With Noel out, if Adams doesn't return, OKC's going to be limited to playing Mike Muscala and small ball "centers." https://t.co/NqKRKjBVym
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) January 20, 2020