Donovan not giving Thunder easy way out

They're commonly referred to as “schedule losses,” and the game the Thunder dropped to the Knicks on Saturday had all the hallmarks.

Oklahoma City was playing on the second night of a back-to-back, on the last stop of a three-game road trip. It had played a triple-overtime game the night before in Philadelphia.

But Thunder coach Billy Donovan, when asked if his team had its legs down the stretch, didn't want to give OKC the easy out.

“I'm not gonna say that,” Donovan said. “I mean, it's the NBA. Everybody's playing back-to-backs.”

The Thunder's wasn't just any back-to-back.

Its Friday 119-117 win at Philly on Friday had been a marathon. Russell Westbrook logged 52 minutes, Carmelo Anthony 47 and Paul George 45 in the triple-overtime affair. Guard Andre Roberson, returning from a one-game absence with a sprained ankle, played 34 despite a minutes restriction.

Center Steven Adams played 51 minutes before fouling out. Adams didn't play Saturday in New York, entering the NBA's concussion protocol after taking a first-overtime blow to the head from Sixers center Joel Embiid on Friday.

Westbrook, Anthony and George each played at least 32 minutes on Saturday.

But this isn't the month for rest.

The Thunder won't have two days off between games this month.

It plays every other day in December with two exceptions: the back-to-back games at Philadelphia and New York over the weekend, this week's back-to-back, against the Hawks at home on Friday and at the Jazz on Saturday.

According to TeamRankings.com, which tracks NBA standings by rest days, the Thunder is 8-9 this season with one day off in between games. It's 3-3 with two or three days off between games and 2-3 in the second of back-to-back games.

On Monday, the Thunder hosts a Nuggets team coming off a two-day rest. Three of OKC's past four opponents entered the game on two days' rest.

But fatigue, Donovan said, wasn't the deciding factor against the Knicks.

“We didn't play well enough to win,” he said.

Adams update

As of Sunday afternoon, Adams remained in the NBA concussion protocol and was listed as out for Monday's game against the Nuggets.

Adams was due to be evaluated on Sunday night, and his status could change depending on the outcome.

Adams cannot return to action until he is without concussion symptoms at rest; has been evaluated by a physician; has completed the league's return-to-participation exertion process; and a team physician has discussed the return process with the director of the NBA Concussion Program.

No 3 D

The Knicks on Saturday made 14 3-pointers against the Thunder, one short of Oklahoma City's season high for an opponent. New York's 60.9 percent shooting from behind the arc (14 of 23) was the highest by a team against OKC this season.

It was more than just hot shooting by the Knicks.

The Thunder's issues outside the line, Donovan said, originated nearer the rim, where Knicks forward Michael Beasley was doing most of his damage in a 30-point game.

Beasley got to the rim with “no backside help,” Donovan said, and so the Thunder committed to changing that. The problem was that the help came too early.

“What happens is, when they can throw a pass — just a dart across the floor — there's no rotation for that,” Donovan said. “It had nothing to do with rotations. It had nothing to do with rotations.”

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