OAKLAND, Calif. — Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Hamidou Diallo left the floor on a stretcher in the fourth quarter Wednesday night with an apparent serious leg injury.
Diallo jumped for a rebound in transition, and after landing, Golden State Warriors forward Jonas Jerebko landed awkwardly on Diallo’s legs. Diallo immediately began rolling on the floor in pain, all the way off the court and under the basket. Teammates had their heads in the hands and appeared visibly shaken by the injury.
Diallo, a second-round pick, has been a bright spot for the Thunder, securing a steady spot in the rotation as a defensive spark plug. He started in place of Terrance Ferguson on Monday against the Sacramento Kings and scored 18 points on 7-of-7 shooting.
The Thunder have been hit with a wave of injuries in their backcourt recently. After getting Russell Westbrook back from an ankle sprain, guard Alex Abrines has missed the last three games with an illness and guard Terrance Ferguson exited in the first half against the Warriors and did not return because of a left ankle sprain.
Diallo, 20, is averaging 6.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 15 games entering Wednesday’s game against the Warriors.