How does Billy Donovan assess a preseason loss without two key starters? Not much different than a regular-season game.
Take the Thunder’s massive rebounding disadvantage in a 107-70 loss to Dallas on Monday. Without Steven Adams, who was rested, the Thunder was already at a double-digit disadvantage on the glass entering the second half. Then, Maxi Kleber exacerbated the issue with a putback dunk over Nerlens Noel and in between two other Thunder defenders.
The Mavericks outrebounded the Thunder 66-39, but Donovan wasn’t making any excuses in postgame for the rebounding disparity.