The defending champion Thunder will get one of their key reserves back on Monday.
Ajay Mitchell will suit up for Oklahoma City’s game against Denver, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon tweets. Mitchell has missed the last 20 games due to an abdominal strain and sprained ankle. The 6’4″ shooting guard, who hasn’t played since Jan. 21, is no longer listed on the team’s injury report.
The 2024 second-round pick established a rotation role prior to the injuries. In 43 appearances, including nine starts, Mitchell averaged 14.1 points, 3.7 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 26.3 minutes per game. He was also a defensive factor, averaging 1.4 steals per night, and was shooting a solid 48.7 percent from the field (35 percent on three-point tries).
With Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, Alex Caruso and the trade-deadline addition of Jared McCain, the Thunder already had impressive depth at the guard and wing spots. Mitchell will probably play fewer minutes than he did earlier in the season, though he proved to be a reliable backup for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after appearing in just 36 games as a rookie.
The Thunder still have a lengthy injury report for their matchup with the Nuggets, beat writer Rylan Stiles tweets. Isaiah Hartenstein will miss his second straight game due to a calf injury and starting forward Jalen Williams remains out due to a hamstring strain. Caruso (hip) and Chet Holmgren (flu) are listed as questionable.
I don’t think he will play fewer minutes, he was a 6th man leading candidate before injury. OKC also has no fear of running 4 guards out there.
OK —-
we all know stars will get calls. Get the benefit of the doubt. It’s always been that way. Then you take away the hand check rule. So you make it easier for the offensive player. Like SGA, Harden, Luka, J Browns, Brunson, Pritchard, and many more.
Then you have the ones who push the limits. Like Luka, J Brown, SGA. Who initiate the contact then cry for calls. Brunson isn’t as bad as these guys. Luka and Brown are the worst. Cause they will act and scream and dramatize for a call. Then argue when they don’t get it. Considering there are three refs out there. Why do you let them get away with it. You never call them for walking. Kerr is right. In the old days you deck them so they know what a real foul is like. Today these primadonbas think they can do what they want. Bunch of wuzzies.
Steve Kerr talking — —. on SGA
“If you allow the offensive player to push off with the off-arm to create space, it makes it really tough defensively because you can’t put your arm in. If you put your arm in, everybody around the league will do what Shai does, what James Harden does. They’ll hook your arm, and it’s all a part of the rules.”
link to yardbarker.com