Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook will miss Tuesday's season opener against the Golden State Warriors, according to Erik Horne of The Oklahoman. Westbrook was expected to miss the game, but now it's official.

Thunder starting center Steven Adams is a game-time decision with lower-back stiffness. If Adams misses the tilt, it could be Nerlens Noel's chance at his first start with the team.

In addition to these injuries, Andre Roberson remains on the shelf as he recovers from a patellar tendon rupture that just had an unfortunate setback.

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Westbrook underwent arthroscopic knee surgery early last month, which has kept him from all preseason action, leaving new acquisition Dennis Schroder as the team's de facto starter until Westbrook returns.

The 2017 MVP is expected to return soon from injury, but until he does, it will be the most-asked question in Billy Donovan's encounters with the media. In his absence, Paul George will take the majority of the shots against the defending champions, while Schroder will get his share of liberties operating from the point.

Oklahoma City split regular-season games with the Warriors last season, winning their first two comfortably before falling by 32 points in their post-All-Star encounter and losing another during the tail end of the 2017-18 season.