Terrance Ferguson is still not back in the lineup for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Ferguson, who is not playing Saturday night against the Denver Nuggets, is continuing to struggle with right hip soreness.
Billy Donovan announced the decision to hold Ferguson out against Denver following the Thunder’s practice on Friday afternoon. According to Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman, Donovan said at the time that the third-year wing was “making some good progress”.
Donovan provided another update on Ferguson’s status prior to tip-off on Saturday evening.
“He’s able to run, cut, workout and do those things. I think the biggest challenge for him is you don’t want him to have a setback. He’s obviously been out for five games so you want to be very careful when you bring him back that he’s not in the position that he ends up reaggravating it, and then all of a sudden, it gets extended into two weeks when it didn’t need to be.”
However, Donovan told Lee that he doesn’t know when Ferguson will be able to return.
“He’s progressing really, really well. He’s on the court. He’s shooting, he’s running, he’s doing lateral things. So I don’t know when it will be, but I think everyone that’s been working with him feels really good about where he’s at right now.”
According to Donovan, Ferguson still has yet to participate in any contact drills.
Ferguson has missed the entirety of the Thunder’s current road trip, although he did travel with the team.
Ferguson’s absence, coupled with Hamidou Diallo’s injury, has allowed Abdel Nader to see additional time. Nader had started four straight games coming into Saturday and was again in the starting lineup against the Nuggets.
