Thunder/Celtics Live Blog

Follow along and comment as we keep up with the action on the court.

Andre Roberson Will Play

Billy Donovan confirms that Andre Roberson will play when the Thunder tipoff vs. the Boston Celtics today at 4 pm. Roberson has missed the last 181 games after tearing his patellar tendon in Detroit back in 2018. Donovan also says Roberson will not have a minutes restriction.

Roberson told Buffs TV in April he was past the point of rebab and should be playing. Dovan did not say if he would start in this afternoon's scrimmage, only that he would mix and match based on the Celtics personnel. 

Noel Out:

Nerlens Noel will not play this afternoon. Donovan says that Noel did practice on Wednesday, but in assessing where he was, the medical staff thought it best to give him another day of rest.

Noel has been nursing a "tweaked ankle" since coming to Orlando. Rookie Darius Bazley has been getting run at the five when Mike Muscala needs rest, it will be fun to watch how many minutes he gets a center today with Noel on the shelf. 

First Quatrter:

Lu Dort will be in his familiar position of starting two-guard. Donovan had not guaranteed that he would be in the starting lineup when the season restarts. 

Steven Adams lied the other day when he told the media he would not be shooting threes. 

Nice shot by Dort; if he can be more active on offense, he'll stay in the starting lineup. The defense is a little loose, but I don't expect either team to be going all out today. 

First timeout: Donovan said during the pregame that it's tricky to balance the minutes for the veterans. On the one hand, you don't want to play them too many minutes and wear them out before the seeding game, but, since they haven't played in a while, you can't over rest them either. 

The overall pace has been about what you thing for a preseason game with guys being off for over five months. The shooting and passing leave a lot to be desired, but, you're just trying not to get anyone hurt Schroder, Muscala Bazley Diallo, and SGA in for Oklahoma City.  

21-17 Thunder after one 

Second Quater:

Paul starts the second quarter for SGA. Still waiting for our first sign of Andre Roberson. 

I am also waiting to see if Darius Bazley gets a chance to play center when Muscala needs a rest. 

Schroder doesn't seem to have lost anything off the break in the way of being in shape.  

The Celtics broadcast crew is very complementary to Adams. You get the feeling that maybe we don't appreciate everything he brings to the table. 

Maybe because I know it's a scrimmage, I'm not missing the crowd all that much. If this were one of the seeding games, the lack of noise would be a lot more noticeable. 

Celtics have picked up the intensity on defense. I would love to see Marcus Smart in a Thunder uniform. Two years left on a $52-million deal will keep that from happening. 

Excellent job of pushing the pace! After starting a little loose, Oklahoma City has picked up the intensity on both ends of the floor. 

Schroder is all over smart! Love it! Adams goes up for the rebound and the putback. 

You can't take too much out of any preseason game, but, considering you only have eight games to improve your seeding, I wonder if Donovan is willing to go to this lineup earlier in the game?  If you're not watching. SGA, CP3, Schroder, Adams, and Gallinari are on the floor late in the second. 

It's also a sign of us not seeing these guys very much in the second half. 

After a slow-going first quarter, both teams picked it up in the second. 

Thunder lead 47-42 at the half.

Steven Adams, 17 points seven rebounds 8/11 from the floor and 0/1 from beyond the arc. 

Third Quarter:

Thunder starting with Bazley, Schroder, Muscala, SGA, and Dort.

Celtics are giving some of their bottom of the roster guys some work with 6:42 left to go in the third. Dort looks like he's going to the bench. 

Terrance Ferguson, Roberson, Abdel Nader, and Deonte Burton are all available but have yet to play. 

 At 5:33 in the third, for the first time since January of 2018, Andre Roberson is playing basketball for the Thunder.  This is a massive moment for Roberson, who suffered multiple setbacks after tearing his left patellar tendon against the Pistons two and a half years ago. 

I'm on record as saying we would never see Roberson play again for the Thunder. I thought after he took his rehab to Los Angeles, it was over. 

Dre with his first bucket of the season! 

Fourth Quarter:

Dre for there from the corner! Andre Roberson has five points in his first game back.  The Thunder bench is jacked to see Roberson back on the floor.  

Dort with the scoop and score. The Thunder are not walking through this fourth quarter. 

Abdel Nader 2/3 6 points. 

There's Terrance Ferguson. 

Nader down, holding his head, got tangled up with Willams fell down, and hit his head on the court. Looks nasty, as head bounced off the floor. Nader going into the training room. 

98-84 Thunder Final.