Ajay Mitchell’s availability is the big question hanging over the Oklahoma City Thunder as they get ready to face the LA Clippers in NBA Cup play.
Mitchell is listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain after sitting out Oklahoma City’s last game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Thunder were already dealing with the absence of Jalen Williams, and Mitchell’s missed game came in the second half of back-to-back defeats to Portland.
In Mitchell’s place, Alex Caruso started and finished with 14 points, but Oklahoma City still felt the loss of Mitchell’s scoring touch against a Trail Blazers defense that made life difficult on the perimeter.
That absence mattered because Mitchell has taken on a larger role with Jalen Williams sidelined by a serious ankle injury. Over eight starts, Mitchell has been producing 21 points per game while shooting 54% from the field, giving the Thunder a reliable second scoring option behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The extra day of rest gives Mitchell a better chance to suit up, but nothing is locked in yet. For now, his status against the Clippers remains up in the air.
Oklahoma City’s injury list also includes Chet Holmgren, who is out with a right knee injury recovery; Thomas Sorber, out after right knee surgery; Nikola Topic, out on G League assignment; Cason Wallace, out after left shoulder surgery; Jalen Williams, out after left ankle surgery; and Jaylin Williams, out with low back spasms.
The Clippers’ report is just as crowded. Bradley Beal is out for right knee injury management, Brandon Ingram is out after right heel surgery, Nick Martinelli is out on a G League two-way, Jordan Miller is out following left rotator cuff surgery, and Yanic Konan Niederhauser is out after right Lisfranc surgery.
In Other News...
Thunder Frontcourt Suddenly Faces A Real Test During Injury Stretch
Isaiah Hartensteins comments after Oklahoma Citys loss to Portland landed with the kind of blunt honesty that usually comes when a team is trying to solve problems on the fly. The Thunder are working through an injury stretch that has forced the frontcourt into constant adjustment, and with key pieces unavailable, the burden has shifted toward finding workable combinations and a little more versatility from the bigs who are still standing.
For Hartenstein, that means adapting alongside rookie Aday Mara while the Thunder keep moving from one game to the next with little practice time to smooth things out. Oklahoma City has leaned on frontcourt pairings before, and the challenge now is finding another one that can hold up quickly enough, especially with the LA Clippers next on the schedule and the margin for error getting thinner. [Read more 🡒]
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Just Gave Thunder Fans A New Look At Him
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is showing a different side of himself away from the floor, stepping in as a guest editor for Spotify and curating a new playlist that reflects his taste beyond basketball. The project, first released on Nov. 12, is built around a hip-hop-heavy mix and pulls from both emerging and established artists, giving Thunder fans a small window into the sounds that shape his world.
The playlist is set to be refreshed monthly, which makes it more than a one-off novelty and more like an ongoing look at the guards musical leanings. Gilgeous-Alexander also opened up about his influences and the way he approaches music before games, adding another layer to the profile of a player whose style and personality continue to stand out in Oklahoma City. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Suddenly Need Nikola Topic In A Much Bigger Role
Nikola Topic is back with the Thunder after an official recall from the G League, and the timing could hardly be more important. Oklahoma City is planning to have him available for its upcoming NBA Cup matchup with the LA Clippers, a game that could double as his first action of the 2026-27 season and a chance to step into a far larger role than anyone expected a few weeks ago.
For a team already dealing with a thin rotation, Topics return comes with real stakes attached. He has flashed promise in limited NBA minutes, and the Thunder have reason to believe he can handle more responsibility this season, but this is also the kind of spot where development gets accelerated fast. With injuries forcing Oklahoma City to lean on depth, Topic may be asked to contribute in a way that tests both his readiness and the teams trust in him. [Read more 🡒]