Every Thunder player, coach and staff member stood from their socially distanced seats with 5:33 remaining in the third quarter.
Andre Roberson was checking in.
In a gym without fans, Roberson had a cheering section. He cracked a smile as he crossed halfcourt. Roberson could hear the applause as he walked to the far basket, but he might not have seen the standing ovation Oklahoma City’s bench was giving him.
It was a moment 909 days in the making.
Roberson returned to the court Friday afternoon in a scrimmage against the Celtics, his first competitive game since rupturing the patellar tendon in his left knee two and a half years ago.