Thunder two-way player Adam Flagler will miss 4-to-6 weeks due to a right fourth metacarpal fracture, Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman tweets.
The 25-year-old forward out of Baylor has appeared in 11 games with the Thunder this season. He’s averaged 1.4 points and 0.5 rebounds in 3.4 minutes.
Flagler is a holdover from last season, as he originally signed his two-way deal in February. He was a critical contributor for the Oklahoma City Blue’s championship squad in 2023/24. In three G League contests this season, he has averaged 25 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.3 steals.
We have more from the Western Conference:
The Suns are 11-2 with Kevin Durant in uniform and 1-9 without him. Phoenix should be able to overcome Durant’s absences better than that, Gerald Bourguet of GoPhnx.com writes. Their futility in the games he’s missed are due in large part to **Devin Booker**‘s subpar efficiency and spotty defense this season and **Bradley Beal**‘s inability to step up his game to fill the void.
Kawhi Leonardappears to be progressing toward a return this month and it would be an ideal time to ease him back into the Clippers lineup, according to Law Murray of The Athletic. The Clippers don’t have back-to-back games until New Year’s Day, Law notes. The Clippers have only eight games in 26 days, which should help their injured players heal up. “He’s a defensive-minded guy who can guard the basketball, guard five different positions,” Lue said. “For him coming into what we’re doing, it shouldn’t be hard for him to get involved.”
**Brandon Ingram**‘s ankle injury, which will keep him out of action indefinitely, means the floundering Pelicans must soon make some difficult decisions, William Guillory of The Athletic writes. They must decide what to do with Ingram, a free agent after the season, and whether there’s still a trade market for him. They also must figure out what to do with their other oft-injured star, Zion Williamson.