The Oklahoma City Thunder are still reeling from losing one of their promising young players for an extended period of time.
The New Orleans Pelicans, meanwhile, keep absorbing injury after injury.
The Pelicans and Thunder will face off Wednesday in Oklahoma City with both rotations looking drastically different from what the teams hoped for before the season.
The game will be the first between the teams since Oklahoma City swept the first-round playoff series between the two last season.
The latest blow to the Pelicans came Tuesday when the team announced that guard Jose Alvarado had been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain that will keep him out at least three weeks.
Alvarado, who was injured in Monday’s loss to Brooklyn, was already being thrust into a much bigger role than anticipated after the opening-night injury to starting point guard Dejounte Murray.
“It’s tough, no doubt about it,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said of the loss of Alvarado. “We all feel for what Jose is going through right now. We’re going to miss him on the floor, his spirit. He’s one of our emotional leaders.”
With Murray out a few more weeks with a fractured hand and Alvarado now joining him on the sidelines, the Pelicans figure to rely even more heavily on Brandon Boston to handle the ball.
Boston had 10 assists, seven rebounds, three steals and just one turnover in Monday’s loss, though was just 3-of-13 shooting from the field for seven points.
“He’s a bright spot, as we’re going through some turbulent times,” Green said. “He’s stepping on the floor, taking full advantage of his opportunity. You saw his passing ability (vs. Brooklyn). He didn’t have the scoring game he had been having, but he’s affecting the game in other ways. His ability to play defense, his rebounding, making sharp passing, getting guys wide-open shots. It was good to see him execute at a high level.”
Boston, who was acquired off waivers just before the season began, has 31 assists and just six turnovers so far.
The Pelicans also remain without Jordan Hawkins, Herb Jones, CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson.
New Orleans has lost five consecutive games and eight of their last nine.
The Thunder are coming off Monday’s 134-128 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. It was Oklahoma City’s first game since Sunday’s injury to Chet Holmgren.
Holmgren (right iliac hip fracture) is expected to miss at least two months.
Though the Thunder haven’t suffered injuries at the same rate as New Orleans, the injuries Oklahoma City has sustained have been focused on the interior. Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams and Kenrich Williams have yet to play this season, and now they’ll be without Holmgren for an extended period.
The injuries are forcing the Thunder to play differently, relying on much smaller lineups.
“I think what they lean back on is that they’re highly competitive,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “They want to win, and they’re highly connected, so they’re gonna do whatever it takes to win, and they’re gonna do it together.”
In Monday’s game, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams handled much of the offensive load, combining for 73 points.
“It’s just trusting each other to make extra plays, and not try to force stuff because (Holmgren is) out,” said Jalen Williams, who is now the Thunder’s de facto starting center. “That’s something that we had to do with (Hartenstein) playing.”
–Field Level Media
