OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER NEWS

OKC Thunder quotes: Nikola Jokic offers Aleksej Pokusevski advice during Wednesday's game The reigning MVP offered the 20-year-old some advice.

MARCH 3, 2022 • USATODAY.COM

Thunder 7-Footer Aleksej Pokusevski is Hitting His Stride The 20-year-old Thunder forward is starting to emerge as a consistent contributor.

MARCH 3, 2022 • KANSASCITY.COM

Oklahoma City hosts Minnesota, aims to break home skid

MARCH 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Posts nice stat line as starter Pokusevski accumulated nine points (4-9 FG, 1-1 3Pt), 11 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals over 29 minutes during Wednesday's 119-107 victory over the Nuggets.

Impact Pokusevski got the start with Aaron Wiggins (ankle) out of commission, and the 20-year-old came through with a team-leading 11 boards along with a pair of blocks and steals. His offensive production was less dynamic, but he did well enough with a 4-for-9 shooting line and only one turnover. Pokusevski has earned some fantasy relevance with his play of late -- he has scored in double-digits in six of his past 10 games while averaging 6.4 boards and 1.2 blocks over that stretch.

MARCH 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Posts career-best 26 points Roby produced 26 points (9-13 FG, 4-5 3Pt, 4-7 FT), seven rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals over 34 minutes during Wednesday's 119-107 victory over the Nuggets.

Impact Roby received his sixth start in seven contests and made the most of the opportunity by going off for a career-high point total. The third-year big man hadn't exceeded 17 points in any contest this season prior to Wednesday, so his offensive production in the upset victory appears to be an outlier, especially considering the fact that it came on an unsustainable 4-of-5 mark from three-point range. Roby has some fantasy value for his rebounding and defense when he starts, but don't expect him to be a consistent offensive asset.

MARCH 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Produces another strong stat line Gilgeous-Alexander supplied 29 points (10-23 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 6-8 FT), seven rebounds, five assists, one block and two steals in 37 minutes during Wednesday's 119-107 victory over the...

Impact Gilgeous-Alexander narrowly missed extending his streak of 30-plus point games to four, but he still led Oklahoma City in scoring in the upset win. The point guard also tied for the team lead with five assists and secured seven boards, though his stat line was slightly marred by his seven turnovers. Miscues aside, this was another strong game for Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 33.5 points over his past four contests.

MARCH 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Thunder Star From Distance, Derail Nuggets' Win Streak The Oklahoma City Thunder shot a season-best from three in Wednesday’s meeting.

MARCH 3, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Gilgeous-Alexander, Roby lead Thunder by Nuggets, 119-107

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points, Isaiah Roby added a career-high 26 and the injury-depleted Oklahoma City Thunder beat the heavily favored Denver Nuggets 119-107

MARCH 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Starting for Wiggins Pokusevski will start Wednesday's game against the Nuggets, Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman reports.

Impact With Aaron Wiggins (ankle) sidelined, Pokusevski will join the starting five for the first time since Jan. 5. The 19-year-old has seen an uptick in minutes since he was recalled from the G League on Feb. 8, averaging 10.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 blocks across 23.6 minutes per game.

MARCH 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Out Wednesday Favors won't play Wednesday against the Nuggets due to low back soreness.

Impact Favors hasn't played in the team's last two games, but he won't be available on Wednesday after popping up on the injury report with low back soreness. Depending on his health, his next chance to return will be Friday against the Timberwolves.

MARCH 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Thunder Making the Most of Depleted Bench Unit With a rash of injuries hitting the bench, OKC is looking to new faces to fill the void

MARCH 2, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

NBA odds: LeBron James could leave Lakers for Knicks, Heat or Bronny

Will LeBron James finish his career with the Lakers? Read which NBA team FOX Bet oddsmakers think the superstar will suit up for next.

MARCH 2, 2022

WATCH: How Does Shai Gilgeous-Alexander do it? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 33 points in his last three games.

MARCH 2, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Will miss fifth straight game Williams (knee) is listed as out for Wednesday's game against Denver.

Impact A sprained left knee will keep Williams sidelined for a fifth straight contest. The Thunder have already ruled seven players out of Wednesday's game, so the likes of Aleksej Pokusevski, Tre Mann, Vit Krejci and Theo Maledon all figure to see increased minutes.

MARCH 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Remains sidelined Muscala (ankle) is listed as out for Wednesday's game against Denver.

Impact The reserve big man has not played since Feb. 4 and remains without any sort of timetable. Of late, the Thunder have leaned on Isaiah Roby and Olivier Sarr for most of the minutes at center.

MARCH 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Out again Jerome (hip) is listed as out for Wednesday's game against Denver.

Impact Jerome will miss a fifth straight game due to a sore hip. The Thunder have an extensive injury report heading into Wednesday, so it'll be a skeleton crew of options surrounding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

MARCH 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Will miss sixth straight game Dort (shoulder) is listed as out for Wednesday's game against Denver.

Impact This will be the sixth straight absence for Dort, who's still battling a strained left shoulder. At this point in the season, it's all about draft positioning for OKC, so don't expect the team to push Dort to return until he's back to 100 percent.

MARCH 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Thunder Forward Aleksej Pokusevski has Found Middle Ground Serbian forward Aleksej Pokusevski is seeing his most consistent stretch of basketball yet.

MARCH 1, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

WATCH: Coach Diagneault Reacts to Bazley's Rap Coach Daigneault says the key to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s offensive attack.

MARCH 1, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Plays 29 minutes in blowout Krejci finished with 10 points (4-12 FG, 0-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, two assists and one steal across 29 minutes in Monday's 131-110 loss to the Kings.

Impact Krejci appeared in just five of the Thunder's 53 games prior to the All-Star break, but thanks to several guards/wings being sidelined with injuries, he's been able to pick up steady rotational minutes in each of the team's first three contests to begin the second half of the season. The rookie submitted his best fantasy line to date Monday, and the stat line would have looked even better had he not come up empty from downtown. Krejci is a player to monitor only in deep leagues at this time, and he could fall out of the rotation as soon as at least two of Kenrich Williams (knee), Ty Jerome (hip), Luguentz Dort (shoulder), Josh Giddey (hip) and Aaron Wiggins (ankle) are back in action.

MARCH 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Supplants Favors as backup center Sarr scored a career-high 12 points (5-8 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 1-2 FT) and added four rebounds across 26 minutes Monday in the Thunder's 131-110 loss to the Kings.

Impact For the second straight game, head coach Mark Daigneault deployed Sarr as the backup to starting center Isaiah Roby, while Derrick Favors was left out of the rotation. Though Favors is probably the more reliable option of the two big men at this stage of his career, he's also a veteran on a rebuilding team, so expect Sarr's development to remain a greater priority as the season winds down. The undrafted rookie out of Kentucky has averaged 8.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 23.5 minutes between the past two games, so he warrants attention only in deep leagues at this point.

MARCH 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Won't play Wednesday Wiggins (ankle) has been ruled out for Wednesday's contest against the Nuggets, Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman reports.

Impact Wiggins left Monday's loss to the Kings in the first half with a right ankle sprain and was unable to return. The rookie wing will be sidelined for at least one additional contest, and Vit Krejci, who started the second half of Monday's contest in Wiggins' place, will likely see an increased role for duration of Wiggins' absence.

MARCH 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Denver faces Oklahoma City, seeks 5th straight home win

Denver comes into a matchup against Oklahoma City after winning four straight home games

MARCH 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS