The Oklahoma City Thunder made another adjustment to their starting five Wednesday night against Cleveland, and this one leaned into size up front.
Thirty minutes before tipoff, the team announced its lineup for the rematch at Paycom Center after Oklahoma City’s upset win over the Cavaliers on Monday. With the roster still hit hard by injuries, Mark Daigneault had to reshuffle again, and this time he kept the Thunder bigger in the front court by inserting the rookie into the first five.
That comes with the Thunder still working around a rough injury stretch that has already knocked Jalen Williams out for the season, sidelined Cason Wallace for the season and left Chet Holmgren out 8 to 10 weeks. Jaylin Williams was also out Wednesday with back spasms, forcing yet another change to the rotation.
There was at least one lift for Oklahoma City on the injury front: Alex Caruso returned after missing time with an ankle sprain last week. His presence gives the Thunder a boost on the defensive end, and he also brings connective playmaking, 3 point shooting and play finishing.
Even with the absences, Oklahoma City entered the night as the favorite. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was coming off a 43 point outing in Monday’s win and the Thunder were unbeaten at home, while Cleveland had to try to bounce back without Peyton Watson and Jaylon Tyson, two of its better point of attack defenders.
The Thunder are trying to keep things steady after injuries derailed the first week of the 2026-27 campaign. After Wednesday’s game, they head out for a one-off trip to Memphis before returning to the Paycom Center on Saturday to host the Washington Wizards.
In Other News...
Tyrese Proctor Just Got Another Real Chance With Cleveland
Tyrese Proctor is getting another look in Clevelands starting five, and this one comes with a little more weight attached. The Cavaliers will open against Oklahoma City with Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, James Harden, Donovan Mitchell and Proctor, giving the young guard a chance to settle into a bigger role while the team continues to sort through its rotation.
Meleek Thomas is sliding back to the bench after starting Monday, a reminder that the Cavaliers are still experimenting with combinations as they navigate injuries. Peyton Watson, Jaylon Tyson and Nae'Qwan Tomlin remain out, so the margin for lineup stability is still thin, and every chance like this matters for a player trying to carve out a place in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Isaiah Mobleys Next Career Move Will Catch Cavs Fans Attention
Isaiah Mobleys next stop will be in Spain, where Basquet Manresa announced the former Cavaliers draft pick has signed with the club. For Cleveland fans, it is another reminder of how quickly the back end of an NBA roster can turn into a global career path, especially for players who have already spent time overseas after their first run through the league.
Mobley was selected by Cleveland in the 2022 draft and has since kept his career moving through stops in Turkey and Israel before this latest move. His name sits in a broader wave of familiar NBA players landing on the European market, with Killian Hayes close to Maccabi Tel Aviv and Josh Hart drawing attention for a possible future role with Napoli Basket, while the league also continues to answer questions from U.S. senators about its partnership with Rwanda. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs May Be Mishandling One Of Their Most Important Players
Jarrett Allen has been one of the most efficient and dependable pieces in Clevelands frontcourt, giving the Cavaliers a steady interior presence on both ends. He has already shown the kind of impact that made him an All-Star, and the numbers have only reinforced how important he is to the teams success when he is fully involved in the offense.
The concern is not whether Allen can help the Cavs, but whether he is being used enough to maximize that value. Cleveland has looked better when he is on the floor and less secure when he sits, which makes his playing time a real issue for a team trying to keep its footing in the East. If the Cavaliers want to get the most out of one of their most important players, they may need to rethink how often he is asked to watch from the bench. [Read more 🡒]