The Oklahoma City Thunder’s injury list keeps stretching, and it’s not getting any shorter for their matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Alex Caruso is out again because of an ankle sprain, while the Cavs have Peyton Watson listed as questionable with right hamstring soreness.
Caruso has already been ruled out and will miss a second straight game after hurting his ankle against the Phoenix Suns. He went down in the second quarter, was shut down for the rest of the night, and finished with nine points, three assists and two rebounds in nine minutes.
Oklahoma City has been leaning on depth just to get through this stretch. The Thunder have dropped back-to-back games to the Mavericks and Rockets while dealing with a long injury list that also includes Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren. With the backcourt thinned out, rookies Bennett Stirtz and Josh Dix have been getting minutes off the bench, and that should continue with Caruso unavailable.
Watson’s status is still up in the air, so there’s at least a chance he suits up against OKC. He has averaged 10.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in his first six games with the Cavs, but the scoring has cooled off quickly. Over his last two outings, he has totaled just nine points and shot 3 of 14 from the field.
If Watson can’t play, Mario Hezonja could be in position to make his first start as a Cavalier. He’s putting up 7.5 points and 5.2 rebounds off the bench.
In Other News...
Darius Garland Is Making The Cavaliers Trade Look Better Again
Early in the 2026-27 season, the Cavaliers decision to move Darius Garland for James Harden is looking better by the week. Garland has struggled to find his footing with the Clippers, and the fit has not been nearly as smooth as Los Angeles hoped when it made the deal. Cleveland, meanwhile, has gotten a steadier version of Harden, who has settled into his role alongside Donovan Mitchell and helped the offense hum in a way that makes the swap look favorable from this side of the ledger.
Garlands rough start has only sharpened the contrast. The Clippers have had trouble keeping things together when he is on the floor, and the ball security issues have been hard to ignore as his new team tries to build around him. For the Cavaliers, the early returns are encouraging enough to keep the trade looking like a win, even if the full verdict still has plenty of season left to be written. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs May Have Found Their Next Wing Fit Around Mitchell And Mobley
The Cavaliers latest roster shuffle brought Peyton Watson into the mix as part of a sprawling multi-team trade that sent Max Strus to the Clippers and left Cleveland with future draft picks as part of the return. It also fits the broader early-season picture around Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, with Mobleys improved shooting giving the offense a cleaner look and making the teams wing choices feel even more important as the rotation settles in.
There is already chatter that Cleveland may not be done looking for another versatile piece on the perimeter, especially one who can complement the group without disrupting what has started to work. With the Cavs still sorting out how best to balance size, shooting and defensive flexibility around their core, any additional move would have to make sense both on the floor and in the bigger roster picture. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Title Push Still Carries The Weight Of One Costly Miss
When Cleveland pushed to add Caris LeVert in February 2022, the move was meant to give the roster another scoring option and a little more playoff punch. LeVert gave the Cavaliers four seasons of steady production, averaging 12.5 points in the regular season and 11.6 in the playoffs, and for a while the deal looked like the kind of calculated swing contenders make when they believe they are close.
The part that still lingers is what went out the door to get him, because the cost has only grown more painful in hindsight as Indiana has gotten real value from the draft capital it received. Even with a strong current group featuring James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, and a 4-2 start this season, the old LeVert trade remains one of those front-office decisions that keeps hanging around the edges of Clevelands title push. [Read more 🡒]