(SportsNetwork.com) – The Oklahoma City Thunder can barely field a healthy
roster, but that won’t matter when they visit Air Canada Centre Tuesday night
to face the Toronto Raptors.
With reigning MVP Kevin Durant done until December with a broken foot, and
All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook shelved with a broken hand, the Thunder
lost another piece Monday in a 116-85 drubbing in Brooklyn at the hands of the
Nets.
Andre Roberson, who was playing his first game of the season, left the game
with a foot injury. That once again left the Thunder with eight healthy bodies
by the end of the game.
Reggie Jackson returned from injury for Oklahoma City and led the Thunder with
23 points. He played almost 42 minutes, but committed seven turnovers and
wasn’t satisfied with his performance.
“Everything starts with the point guard, coming out and playing physical. I
have to find a way to be better tomorrow,” Jackson said. “They have another
good point guard in Kyle Lowry and a good team in Toronto.”
Perry Jones and Sebastian Telfair finished with 16 points and Serge Ibaka
added 15.
The Thunder allowed the Nets to shoot 52.4 percent from the floor and forced
only eight turnovers.
The Raptors suffered their first loss of the season on Sunday, a 107-102 road
setback to the Miami Heat. It was the 16th straight setback at the hands of
Miami, including 10 in a row in South Beach.
DeMar DeRozan paced the visitors with 30 points, while Kyle Lowry finished
with 22 points and Jonas Valanciunas added 14. Greivis Vasquez chipped in 12
off the bench.
The Heat shot 50 percent from the floor.
“They played well,” Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said of the Heat. “I’m not
taking anything away from Miami, but we gotta make them miss, we gotta make
them feel us.”
Amir Johnson sat out the loss against Miami with a sore left ankle. He is
listed as questionable and if he can’t go against the Thunder, Patrick
Patterson would get the start.
The Raptors visit the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, then play seven straight
north of the border.
The Thunder have won four of the last five against the Raptors and three of
the last four in Toronto.
