With 18 games left in the season, Thunder coach Scott Brooks said there still hasn't been any talk of a contract extension and he's unsure what the immediate future holds for his coaching career.
"I'm still interim (coach)," Brooks said. "I'm thankful for the opportunity. I've gotten a lot of games under my belt. I think I'm getting better. I think our team is improving. We're focused on the next (18 games). We're not going to throw away these games looking forward to the summer or next season. These are important games for not only myself but for our team to get better." Thunder general manager Sam Presti, who accompanied the team for the start of this three-game road trip, has maintained that Brooks' status will be evaluated at the end of the season. But with a 14-17 record since New Year's Eve before Tuesday night's game against Sacramento, Brooks clearly has been a difference-maker for a team that is one of the league's youngest and started the season 3-29.
But when asked about his coaching future in the event the Thunder does not retain him, Brooks said he hasn't vested much time in thinking about it.
"It hasn't really crossed my mind too much," Brooks said. "But I like what I'm doing. I like the team I have, and Sam is putting together a bunch of high-character guys that work hard so it's fun to be around."
SWIFT'S SON NEEDED SURGERY
Robert Swift rejoined the team Tuesday after receiving an excused absence from the past two games to tend to personal matters. Swift said before the Kings game that he had to fly to Seattle to be with his 10-month-old son, Reiko Swift, who he said was born with overlapped growth plates in his head and needed surgery to correct the condition.
Swift said his son was in intensive care for two days but is now recovering and should be released from the hospital at the end of the week.
"After seeing him, he's doing well and things are a little bit easier," Swift said. "I wish I was up there the entire time he was in the hospital. It's difficult not being there, but at the same time I know he's OK. And Seattle's got some of the best doctors around, and I know he's in good hands."
GREEN LOOKS TO EASE INTO ROTATION
Jeff Green returned to the Thunder's lineup after a four-game absence caused by a sore lower back. But with the team playing well without him, going 3-1, the Thunder's second leading scorer said he will not force his game onto the team now that he's back.
"I know who's been hot the past few games so I'm going to feed them the ball," Green said. "I'm not going to come back and shoot all the shots. That's not me ... We're a team. We're going to share the ball. Whoever's hot at the moment we're going to feed them."
BRIEFLY
Nick Collison sat out Tuesday's game with a groin injury. ... Kevin Durant was hopeful to play tonight against Denver but is not expected to return from a sprained right ankle until Saturday at Phoenix at the earliest.
