HOUSTON – Thunder guard Alex Abrines was a late scratch Tuesday with what the team called a stomach illness, but that wasn't the biggest tweak to the rotation in a 113-109 loss to the Rockets.
Abdel Nader was the primary choice over Patrick Patterson as a substitution for Jerami Grant at power forward. Nader started the fourth quarter where the Thunder's reserves were outscored 7-5.
Thunder coach Billy Donovan said he wanted to go with Nader because the Rockets were playing more four-guard lineups.
“It means a lot that he has confidence to put me in at that time,” said Nader, who played a season-high 10 minutes.