April 2014 Oklahoma City Thunder Wiretap

Serge Ibaka Continues To Refrain From Complaining About Lack Of 4th Quarter Looks

Dec 30, 2014 10:52 AM

Serge Ibaka continues to not get very many looks on offense in the fourth quarter, averaging only 3.4 points on just 2.6 shot attempts.

On Sunday, Ibaka had 24 points through three quarters and didn't score in the fourth.

Ibaka has never publicly complained about the issue.

“That’s basketball, man. I’m not really worried about that,” Ibaka said. “We’ve got great players on the team. We were playing against a good team, too. We’ve got players like Reggie (Jackson) and Russ that can make plays and (Anthony) Morrow can shoot the ball. I was not the only one player on the court that can shoot the ball. That happens sometimes. But it’s not something I’m worried about. I’m sure the most important thing is we’re going to learn from the mistakes and get better next game.”

Darnell Mayberry/Oklahoman

Tags: Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Durant Close To Return After First Full Practice Since Injury

Dec 30, 2014 10:43 AM

Kevin Durant returned to his first full practice since spraining his ankle on Dec. 18 and looked good.

“He was very lively and active on both ends of the floor,” Scott Brooks said. “He’s progressing well. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow and go from there.”

Brooks wouldn’t commit to Durant returning from a six-game absence on Wednesday against the Suns. But signs seem to indicate that will likely be the case.

“Yeah, on the White team he scored 13 of the 17 points in about five minutes of the scrimmage,” Kendrick Perkins said of Durant. “So, yeah, he looked real good.”

Anthony Slater/Oklahoman

Tags: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Injury

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Oklahoma City Blue Acquire Reggie Williams

Dec 26, 2014 5:13 PM

The Oklahoma City Blue has acquired Reggie Williams through its returning player rights.

Williams previously played for the Oklahoma City Thunder and its D-League affiliate. He's played in 180 games with Golden State, Charlotte and Oklahoma City over his five-year career.

The Blue also acquired a third-round pick in the 2015 NBA D-League Draft from the Westchester Knicks in exchange for forward Ron Anderson.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Reggie Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder, Oklahoma City Blue, NBA, D-League, D-League Teams

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Durant Supports Westbrook's Late Game Decision-Making

Dec 26, 2014 12:02 AM

Kevin Durant showed support for the late game decision-making of Russell Westbrook.

Westbrook has been carrying the Oklahoma City Thunder offense with Durant sidelined.

"Who cares what people say?" said Durant, who missed his fourth straight game Thursday. "[He should] just play his game. From watching the last two games, he's the reason why we had a chance to win -- his aggressiveness, getting his teammates involved.

 

"Sometimes it's kind of hard in those situations, knowing exactly what to do when teams are making runs and playing you different ways. But I think he's handled it well. Of course, he's not going to be great every game, but that's how the dice rolls sometimes. I think he's handled it well to lead the team like he's been doing."

Kevin Arnovitz/ESPN

Tags: Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA

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Kevin Durant Out With Ankle Injury

Dec 25, 2014 1:43 PM

Kevin Durant will not play for the Oklahoma City Thunder against the San Antonio Spurs due to his continued ankle injury.

"He could not go if he wanted to go," Scott Brooks said.

Durant suffered the injury on Dec. 18 after the scoring 30 points against the Golden State Warriors in the first half.

Darnell Mayberry/Oklahoman

Tags: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Injury

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Kevin Durant Sits Again, Remains Day-To-Day With Sprained Ankle

Dec 22, 2014 12:05 AM

Kevin Durant sat out the Sunday loss by the Oklahoma City Thunder against the New Orleans Pelicans with a sprained right ankle.

Durant suffered the injury on Thursday just before halftime against the Golden State Warriors and then sat out Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Durant's ankle is reportedly feeling better, but the swelling and soreness apparently hadn’t subsided enough for him to return to action.

Durant is day-to-day and could return on Tuesday against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Anthony Slater/Oklahoman

Tags: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Injury

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Kevin Durant Sprains Ankle, X-Rays Negative

Dec 19, 2014 11:25 AM

Kevin Durant scored 30 points in the first half before suffering a mild right ankle sprain in the closing seconds.

Durant stepped on Marreese Speights' foot and rolled his ankle while driving to the basket. Durant was called for a charge.

"I was a little nervous," said Durant. "But I knew when I got up and started walking it felt good. So I just wanted to make sure with the X-rays everything was good."

Durant had X-rays as a precaution, and results were negative. Durant hopes to not miss any games.

"I don't know. I'm going to just take it a day at a time. Tomorrow morning we'll see how it reacts and go from there," he said. "I hope [to play]. That's the plan. But we'll see."

 

Durant said he felt like he could have returned to the game in the second half but was advised to sit. 

"They had to convince me not to play," he said. "It was the foot I had surgery. I wanted to play, I wanted to go back out there, but they just wanted to be cautious.

"It shouldn't be [serious]. Just a sprained ankle. But when you sprain an ankle with the injury I had, it puts more pressure on that side of the foot."

Royce Young/ESPN

Tags: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Injury

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Mitch McGary Out 2-3 Weeks With Inflammation In Tibia

Dec 17, 2014 3:38 PM

Mitch McGary will miss the next 2-3 weeks with periostitis (inflammation) in his left tibia.

It's not expected to be a serious injury, but McGary's court activity will be lowered as a treatment.

McGary made his NBA debut on Sunday, scoring three points and grabbing four rebounds in six brief minutes against the Suns on Sunday.

Anthony Slater/The Oklahoman

Tags: Mitch McGary, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Injury

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Durant Strongly Refutes Notion Players Don't Want To Play With Kobe

Dec 16, 2014 11:34 PM

Kevin Durant refuted the notion that players around the NBA don't want to play with Kobe Bryant.

"Excuse my language, but that's (expletive)," said Durant, who congratulated Bryant via text message after he surpassed Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list on Sunday. "I want to play with a winner every single night, especially somebody who wants to win that bad, who works that hard, who demands a lot, who raises up your level. I'd want to play with a guy like that every day. ... (His style) may make people uncomfortable, how he acts and just how he approaches the game, but I love that type of stuff. I think (the accusation) is BS."

Durant was asked what he most admires about Bryant.

"Just his work ethic, just his demeanor man," Durant said. "He doesn't mind being an (expletive), and he comes to work man. He's intense. He demands a lot out of his teammates, and I've seen that just playing alongside him in the Olympics (in 2012). He demands a lot out of everybody. He makes them better. Everybody out on the court. You've got to respect that. As a player, I study guys like that. We might not have the same personality, but I think we approach the game the same way and I've learned a lot from just watching him."

Sam Amick/USA Today

Tags: Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Sources: Thunder Inquire About Wilson Chandler

Dec 12, 2014 11:58 AM

The Oklahoma City Thunder have inquired about the availability of Wilson Chandler, according to sources.

Chandler is averaging 14.7 points and 6.3 rebounds this season.

Chris Mannix/Sports Illustrated

Tags: Wilson Chandler, Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Thunder Already Just Three Games Out Of 8th Seed

Darnell Mayberry/Oklahoman

Kevin Durant To Return From Injury Tonight

Brian Windhorst/ESPN