Tonight concludes the only three-games-in-three-nights part of the schedule for the Thunder.
After victories Friday and Saturday against the Houston Rockets, the Thunder tonight faces a San Antonio Spurs team that is playing its second game in as many nights. The Spurs defeated the Denver Nuggets, 121-117, on Saturday.
With the Thunder having upcoming games on Tuesday in Memphis and Wednesday in New Orleans, Head Coach Scott Brooks has -- and will continue to -- rely on his entire roster to get through the five-games-in-six-nights stretch.
“We have a good team,” he said. “Players are going to have to step up and fill the minutes when they get them and we expect that to happen.”
Brooks typically uses a 10-man rotation, but the quality and depth of the 15-man Thunder roster is an asset he will use during grueling stretches such as this.
The Thunder opened the 66-game season with seven games in the first 10 days. During that time, 13 players have appeared in the games and have provided valuable minutes and contributions, especially on the defensive end of the court.
Brooks has talked after the games about the development and progress of each of the three players who are not in the 10-man rotation – Cole Aldrich, Lazar Hayward and Reggie Jackson. Each pushes their teammates daily in practice to get better and each has shown they are ready when Brooks calls their name.
“We have enough talent on this team to handle what the schedule gives us,” Brooks said.