About 20 minutes before tip-off, Nerlens Noel was called into emergency action.
Noticeably missing in the Thunder's line of interlocked arms for the national anthem was a certain 7-foot New Zealander. Steven Adams was a late scratch from the starting lineup against the Phoenix Suns with left calf soreness.
While there's no cure for a poor offense like a below-average team playing for the second time in less than 24 hours, Noel showed the impact he can have on the Thunder, posting 20 points, 15 rebounds and four steals in a 117-110 win Sunday at Chesapeake Energy Arena.