Oklahoma City is shorthanded in Portland on Saturday night as Danilo Gallinari, Terrance Ferguson, Abdel Nader, and Justin Patton are all out against the Trail Blazers.
Gallinari is being held out due to rest, according to Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman. Billy Donovan said the reason for giving Gallo rest on the second night of a back-to-back is to “keep him feeling how he’s feeling”. Gallinari is second on the team in scoring at 19.0 points per game.
Billy Donovan on resting Danilo Gallinari tonight vs. Portland: “We want to keep him feeling how he is feeling.” Donovan said there isn’t a plan to sit Gallinari on the second night of every back-to-back, but they may rest him again as the season progresses.
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) January 19, 2020
Both Ferguson and Patton, who was a late scratch as noted by Lee, are out due to illness. Ferguson missed the second-half of Oklahoma City’s loss on Friday.
Terrance Ferguson (illness) is questionable to return, per the Thunder .
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) January 18, 2020
Nader is also out due to an ankle sprain. He suffered the injury in the first half of Monday’s win over the Timberwolves.
Thunder starters Danilo Gallinari (rest) and Terrance Ferguson (illness) are listed as out tonight. Abdel Nader (left ankle sprain) is also out. Steven Adams (right knee contusion) is questionable.
Full Thunder-Trail Blazers injury report: https://t.co/ejhfaqmWDX
— Joe Mussatto (@joe_mussatto) January 18, 2020
Hamidou Diallo and Darius Bazley both got the start on Saturday in place of Gallinari and Ferguson.
Starters v Blazers
Presented by @EnableMidstream pic.twitter.com/GywMk9T6DK— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 19, 2020
Steven Adams also made his return after suffering a right knee contusion during the first half of Wednesday’s loss to Toronto.
🤙 Big Kiwi’s back tonight. #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/MG8p1D2gOK
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 19, 2020
Per Lee, Adams will be on a minutes restriction on Saturday.