NBA teams
Kevin PeltonDr. Mark Adickes 9y

Thunder can win without Durant

NBA, Oklahoma City Thunder

Friday's announcement by the Oklahoma City Thunder that reigning MVP Kevin Durant is being shut down from basketball activities indefinitely, with the team headed in the direction of ruling him out for the remainder of the 2014-15 season, is a major blow to the idealistic notion that the Thunder could get healthy in time for a long playoff run from the eighth spot in the Western Conference. However, Durant's absence won't necessarily cost the team a playoff spot.

Oklahoma City has now played 25 games this season with All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook but not Durant. The Thunder are 15-10 in those games with a plus-4.2 point differential, similar to their plus-4.3 differential in the 27 games both Durant and Westbrook have played this season.

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