Hamidou Diallo Taken From Court on Stretcher with Leg Injury

Despite being wheeled off the court on a stretcher Wednesday against Golden State, rookie Hamidou Diallo of the Oklahoma City Thunder did not suffer a serious leg injury, said a team spokesperson.

Initially the fear was Diallo had suffered a severe injury and possible break in his left leg. However, x-rays that followed were negative. Teammate Paul George said Diallo suffered an ankle sprain. Although, officials from the team did not offer any diagnosis.

George said he hoped and prayed it was not anything serious and was not the knee.

Diallo left the Thunder locker room wearing a boot on his foot and on crutches. Despite this, his spirits were good after receiving surprising news. He will have been relieved considering how the play that caused the injury looked ominous.

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During the early part of the fourth quarter, Diallo leaped to grab a rebound and upon landing Golden State’s Jonas Jerebko came down on Diallo legs awkwardly. At that point, Diallo began rolling around on the floor in extreme pain. He squirmed off the floor to the baseline near the base that holds the basket and backboard.

Diallo’s teammates appeared concerned and upset by his injury, with some holding their heads in their hands.

Hamidou Diallo was chosen earlier this year in the second round by the Thunder. He has played well earning a regular spot off the bench thanks to his defensive prowess. He started on Monday versus Sacramento and shot 7-for-7 scoring 18 points.

Following Diallo’s injury, Oklahoma City blew open the game with Golden State outscoring the Warriors by 20 points 36-16 in the final quarter to win 123-95.

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Dennis Schroder was the Thunder high scorer with 32 points, while George scored 25 and Russell Westbrook posted his first triple-double for the season with 11 points, 11 boards and 13 assists.

Several injuries have taken their toll this season on the Thunder. After Westbrook returned from his sprained ankle, Alex Abrines has been sidelined three games due to illness and Terence Ferguson left the Warriors game in the first half due to an ankle sprain.

Before being injured, Hamidou Diallo, who is 20, scored three points and pulled down six rebounds and entering the game was averaging 6.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game through the first 15 games of the regular season.