Finally some positive injury news for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
According to Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman, Hamidou Diallo has been upgraded ahead of the Thunder’s game against the Mavericks on Tuesday night. His status is now listed as questionable.
Hamidou Diallo (right elbow hyperextension sprain) has been upgraded to questionable on the latest injury report.
Diallo has been out five weeks. The initial timeline for re-evaluation was four to six weeks.
— Joe Mussatto (@joe_mussatto) December 31, 2019
Diallo has been out since the end of November with a hyperextended right elbow injury. He suffered the injury while defending LeBron James in the fourth quarter of the Thunder’s 130-127 loss to the Lakers on November 22.
Hamidou Diallo runs to the locker room after getting knocked down from a LeBron James drive#ThunderUp #lakers#lakeshow pic.twitter.com/O8C0VI7vb6
— BBall Clips🏀🏀 (@BBallClipsYo) November 23, 2019
After suffering the injury, the Thunder had initially announced that Diallo would be re-evaluated in four-to-six weeks. As noted by Mussatto, as of Tuesday it’s been five weeks and one day.
Diallo has been closely monitored by the Oklahoma City medical staff since November and was said to be on track in his recovery.
Thunder head coach Billy Donovan told The Oklahoman earlier this month that Diallo had been doing what he could to “keep himself in shape”.
“I think that first part was a little bit difficult for him to really be able to do much because his arm was in a sling. But now that he’s got it out and he’s got the ability to run and move and use his right hand some, and use his right arm some, that’s been a good thing.”
Prior to his injury, Diallo was averaging 8.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and .8 assists in 21.4 minutes per game.
Diallo has missed the Thunder’s last 17 games. He also missed three games early in November with left knee soreness.