Playing without Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony is not ideal for the Oklahoma City Thunder. But missing two of its “OK3” stars has shifted more responsibility and autonomy onto the third, Paul George.
George scored 33 points and passed for eight assists in the Thunder’s easy victory Sunday over Memphis. It was the second consecutive game missed by Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony, both nursing sprained ankles with no definitive return dates yet known.
According to both Erik Horne of The Oklahoman and ESPN’s Royce Young, Anthony and Westbrook went through practice today. Much of the work the duo did was of the non-contact variety and their status for Tuesday’s game remains uncertain.
After last night’s win vs. Memphis, Young wrote about the missing players and the adjustments OKC had to make:
Westbrook and Anthony were late scratches in both games, going through workouts prior to the Thunder’s game Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers and Sunday’s game against Memphis. Their official status for Tuesday’s game against the remodeled Cleveland Cavaliers is unknown, with an update expected after practice on Monday.
“Russ was in there this morning working a little bit, trying to move around, getting some treatment,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. “Both those guys will continue to do that.”
Both suffered their injuries against the Warriors last Tuesday. Anthony rolling his right ankle six minutes into the game by stepping on Stephen Curry’s foot. Westbrook sprained his left in the second half though he remained in the game.
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George said with a game and a practice under his belt, he felt much more comfortable as the focal point of the Thunder’s offense, playing much of it at point guard.
“I looked back at the Lakers’ game on different things, but I wanted to see what I was missing, what opportunities I was missing,” George said. “I thought I was a little out of my character with how I was trying to play. I thought tonight, I got in my rhythm and stayed in my rhythm and played my game. Second game being together, that group, I thought there was a little more chemistry”
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