Another Thunder goes down: Perry Jones injures knee

TORONTO, Canada – The Oklahoma City Thunder, already reeling from injuries to stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, lost Perry Jones to a knee injury Tuesday in a 100-88 NBA loss at Toronto.

Jones collided with Patrick Patterson on a drive to the basket early in the third quarter and was helped back to the locker room to have his right knee examined.

Thunder head coach Scott Brooks described the injury as a knee contusion and said Jones would be re-examined on Wednesday.

Injury-hit Oklahoma City had just eight healthy players at tip-off, and Jones, who had arthroscopic surgery on the same knee in July, was one of their few go-to scoring options.

The third-year forward was forced to take on a bigger role because of injuries to reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Durant and Westbrook, and was averaging 18.5 points per game over the first four contests of the season.

Jones’ departure, coupled with Sebastian Telfair’s late ejection, forced the Thunder to play the last two minutes with just 6 healthy players.

“It was an effort that I’m encouraged with,” Brooks said. “These guys are scrappy. This is all new for all of us.”

Depleted Bulls beat Magic

The Chicago Bulls overcame their injury troubles, making do without Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah in a 98-90 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.

Jimmy Butler scored 21 points and Spanish big man Pau Gasol added 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulls.

Chicago were again without Rose, who missed his second game after spraining both ankles against Cleveland on Friday.

France’s Noah was sidelined by illness.

Taj Gibson returned for the Bulls after missing a game with a sprained ankle and had 16 points, and Aaron Brooks and Doug McDermott combined to score 25 off the bench for Chicago.

Nikola Vucevic contributed 19 points and 13 rebounds for Orlando, who fell to 0-4 for the first time since starting 0-6 in 1990-91, their second season in the NBA. – Rappler.com