Three Oklahoma City Thunder are injured coming out of the All-Star break and have been ruled out for the first game against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.
Guard Hamidou Diallo, who suffered a groin injury on Feb. 24, will miss his fifth game in a row, head coach Mark Daigneault said on Wednesday.
“Hami will be out for tomorrow’s game but has made progress over the course of the break,” Daigneault said. “He’s just on a progression right now that, we’ll obviously be cautious and make sure that when he goes back out there, he’s be as close to 100% as he can be.
Diallo had initially been ruled out two games, but even before those games were played, Daigneault said he thought the guard may miss the remaining four before the break.
His absence will be somewhat extended from that original estimation.
“He will not play tomorrow, and after that, I’m really not sure,” Daigneault said.
Point guard George Hill, who suffered a thumb injury in late January, remains in a hard cast following surgery. Daigneault said on March 1 that Hill would be in the cast for one to two weeks, which could put the cast removal date around March 15.
“George Hill is on the same timetable. He’s still in a cast right now and so there’s been no change there,” Daigneault said Wednesday.
Josh Hall, who is suffering from left knee soreness, only played in one G League game and rejoined the Thunder before bubble play concluded.
On March 4, Daigneault said Hall was still recovering while he was in Florida and that the treatment resources in Oklahoma City were better.
He too will be inactive against the Mavericks.
Tipoff for the game between Oklahoma City and Dallas, their first of the second half of the season, is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Thursday.
