It seemed on Thursday that Stevens Adams might be a step closer to making it back onto the court, but his status remains unclear. He is questionable for Saturday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Adams was held out of the Thunder’s 102-99 loss to Portland on Wednesday after leaving Oklahoma City’s loss to the Rockets in the fourth quarter.
It’s been a slow start to the regular season for Adams.
After a solid preseason, Adams has essentially been a non-factor on offense in the four games that he’s played. While he is leading the team in rebounding, pulling down 11.8 boards per game, he’s scoring just six points per game in 27.3 minutes of game time.
According to Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman, Billy Donovan said following Friday’s practice that Adams is listed as questionable.
As he did Thursday, Adams on Friday had a non-contact practice and individual skill work. Thunder coach Billy Donovan told Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman that he “thought Adams was getting better,” adding:
He did do some work, but we didn’t do anything in terms of contact or anything like that. I think he’s getting better, think he feels better.
Adams has been dealing with a left knee contusion. It’s unclear when he suffered the injury, but Donovan told Mussatto he believes that it’s had a significant impact on his game, explaining:
I think the contusion has probably affected his lift a little bit, and his moving and cutting. Steven’s never been a guy who likes to make a bunch of excuses, but clearly … he’s not moving or jumping like maybe he was in the preseason.
Adams started Monday’s loss to the Rockets but left with 6:45 remaining in the game.
Nerlens Noel and Mike Muscala have split time in Adams’ absence, with Noel getting the start Wednesday against Portland.
