The Oklahoma City Thunder’s fight for a playoff spot will likely come down to the season’s last games. And fortunately for Russell Westbrook and company, it seems they’ll receive about all the help they could possibly get for that crucial stretch. According to coach Scott Brooks, reigning MVP Kevin Durant will return to the Thunder lineup in a “week or two.”
Here’s Brooks via Royce Young of ESPN:
“He’s progressing,” Brooks said. “We evaluated him today and expect him to return within a week, a week or two weeks.”
Durant had a minor procedure to replace a screw in his right foot on February 22. He missed the season’s first month following surgery for a Jones fracture in the same foot, and felt enough soreness gleaned from the original screw rubbing against bone that the Thunder deemed another procedure the most prudent option for his long-term health. Durant has missed Oklahoma City’s last 10 games.
Despite the continued brilliance of Westbrook, the Thunder find themselves locked in a battle with the surging New Orleans Pelicans for the West’s eighth and final postseason berth. At 35-29, they trail Anthony Davis’ team by half a game in the standings.
In addition to Durant’s pending return, though, the schedule is another feather in Oklahoma City’s cap. 16 of New Orleans’ last 17 games come against conference opponents, eight of which have legitimate title aspirations. Nine of those final contests come on the road, too. The Thunder, on the other hand, play 11 of their last 18 games at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
And arguably the league’s best player will appear in a majority of those matchups. Advantage Oklahoma City, basically, but it would be foolish to count the gritty Pelicans out.
[ESPN]
