The Oklahoma City Thunder will be down one young big against the Utah Jazz, but they’ll have another returning from concussion protocol for the game against the team with the best record in the league.
Forward Aleksej Pokusevski, who departed the game on Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first quarter due to right arm soreness, is inactive.
He had experienced discomfort before that game before trying to play through.
The rookie got 8 1/2 minutes of action before being subbed out and not returning for the match.
Big Isaiah Roby will be active after missing four games in concussion protocol.
The second-year power forward/center is averaging 8.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 23.4 minutes per game. With Darius Bazley back in the lineup, Roby would likely come off the bench, though he could conceivably start at center over Moses Brown or even at small forward if head coach Mark Daigneault was so inclined.
Small forward Josh Hall was also upgraded to available. He too was in concussion protocol that caused him to miss four games.
Hall had played in five straight games before getting hurt. During that stretch, he averaged 4.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 19.4 minutes per game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (foot), Gabriel Deck (not with the team), Al Horford (inactive), Mike Muscala (ankle) and Pokusevski are all listed as out for Oklahoma City.
