Jackson Officially Out Tonight

By Randy Renner

The Oklahoma City Thunder will try to avoid their worst start to a season since the team moved here from Seattle.

That season began 1-12, this one shouldn't start that badly but with all the injury issues the Thunder have some of you are probably wondering where the wins will come and how.

One of them could come tonight against the Denver Nuggets, a team that managed just 89 points at home in beating Detroit the other night. But the Thunder will again only have eight players available tonight and just one true point guard.

Reggie Jackson told reporters at shootaround today that most likely would not be able to play as he continues to recover from a sprained ankle and head coach Scott Brooks confirmed that bleak news a few minutes ago.

So with Russell Westbrook out also, Sebastian Telfair will be the only true point guard available to play and he will have to go up against one of the fastest PGs in the league in Ty Lawson.

Brooks will go with the rest of the starters he used in LA Thursday night, Andre Roberson at shooting guard, Perry Jones at small forward, Serge Ibaka at power forward and Steven Adams at center. Jones, at 6-11, will be Telfair's backup at point guard.

"I thought Perry did a pretty good job (as backup point guard) last game since he'd never played the position before. So we're gonna have to be creative."

Brooks said the Thunder will use quite a bit of zone defense tonight, something the team at normal strength generally shies away from.

The Nuggets are healthy but they have three players coming off of injuries who will be on minute restrictions tonight. Danilo Gallinari, Javale McGee and Nate Robinson will all be limited to 20 minutes.

After the game we'll have a complete wrap-up including comments from Brooks and from players in the lockerroom.