Perhaps the biggest surprise in the NBA this season, the Oklahoma City Thunder find themselves firmly in the Western Conference playoff race. However, as the team is set to face off against one of the best teams in the East, they'll be without Steven Adams.
Adams has been officially ruled out for Oklahoma City's Friday game against the Miami Heat with an apparent knee injury, per Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman.
The matchup will be just the fourth time the seven-foot Kiwi will miss a game this season. In 38 contests this 2019-20, Adams has averaged 11.8 points and a career-high 10.0 rebounds per game in just 27.7 minutes a contest.
Adams has been a constant force in the paint for the Thunder since he was drafted by the team in 2013. In the three previous games that Adams has missed this season, Oklahoma City has a record of 1-2.
On the bright side, backup center Nerlens Noel will be available for the Miami game and should get the start with Adams out. In his second season as a member of the Thunder, Noel is putting up per-game averages of 7.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 bloc. 27-year-old Mike Muscala should also see an increase in minutes with Adams out.
Without Steven Adams, the Thunder will have a big task ahead of them trying to defeat a Miami squad that is 28-12 and has the fourth-best record in the NBA. The Heat also have emerging center Bam Adebayo who is one of the best big men in the conference.
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