Another practice is behind the Sonics as they move through the preseason, with only a couple weeks left before the team’s season opener on Halloween in Denver.

The Sonics got after it a little bit in practice today, and appear ready for Thursday’s nationally televised game on TNT against the Los Angeles Lakers, 7 p.m.

Rookie Kevin Durant returned to action today after catching an elbow from Nick Collison above his right eye during Tuesday’s practice — the first stitches Durant ever received. Durant said he’s fine and will play on Thursday.

But that’s not the case for Delonte West. After returning from Washington D.C. on Tuesday and getting evaluated today by the Sonics training staff, West will have his lower back checked out further by Dr. Richard Zorn and will not make the trip to Bakersfield. West did not practice today.

Nick Collison (left shin contusion) was limited in practice and may not play on Thursday. Wally Szczerbiak (sprained thumb) did practice and should play against the Lakers.

Coach P.J. Carlesimo said this is a probable starting lineup for Seattle on Thursday:

PG – Earl Watson (since Delonte can’t go)
SG – Kevin Durant
SF – Damien Wilkins
PF – Nick Collison (Wilcox could sit and rest)
C – Robert Swift

Carlesimo said he’s put in a couple more half-court offensive sets to get ready for the season.

‘We’ve actually for the first time started to look a little bit like we have an idea what we’re doing halfcourt for the last couple days,” Carlesimo said. “But if you rated the different areas, half-court offense would probably be our worst grade.”

Listen to more from P.J. here.

The Sonics entire broadcast staff was on hand, including long-time play-by-play man Kevin Calabro and new color analysts Steve “Snapper” Jones and Marques Johnson, along with radio play-by-play guy Matt Pinto. Pinto has been attending most of the practices along with Calabro to familiarize themselves with the players. People that I have talked to who have listened to the radio broadcasts say that they like Pinto.

I had a chance to talk to Marques Johnson about Kevin Durant in particular and the team in general, and, as always, Johnson had some interesting insights.

He said because of Durant’s ability to score a lot of different ways, particularly in the open court before a defense sets up, that he’s a “20-point scorer waiting to happen.”

He also liked the open competition of training camp, saying it brings the intensity level up during practice because guys know their competing for playing time.

Listen to the full conversation with Marques Johnson here.

I also talked to Robert Swift about returning home to play in Bakersfield. He said he dreamed about playing in the arena there, only in his dream he wore a Lakers uniform. Swift said he was a Lakers fan growing up and would go watch them play every year they came to Bakersfield. But he’s happy to be a Sonic now, and looking forward to the trip home, with about 15 family and friends planning to attend.

“It’s one of those things everyone dreams about when they first start playing in the NBA,” Swift said. “You dream about playing in front of the home-town crowd.”

Listen to more of the conversation with Swift here.