Thunder’s Depth Being Tested as Injuries Pile Up - and the Timing Couldn’t Be Worse
The Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t just battling the usual suspects in the Western Conference playoff race. Right now, their most formidable opponent might be the one listed on the team’s daily medical report.
Friday night’s 117-114 loss to the Indiana Pacers wasn’t just a missed opportunity - it was a wake-up call. Yes, the Pacers came in as the last-place team in the East.
Yes, they were still without Tyrese Haliburton. And yes, the Thunder were heavy favorites.
But Indiana didn’t play like a bottom-feeder, and OKC didn’t look like the team that’s been chasing the league’s No. 1 overall seed.
The Thunder had their two biggest stars on the floor - and they showed out. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, dropped 47 points in another surgical performance.
Chet Holmgren, who’s looking more and more like a lock for an All-Star nod and perhaps even Defensive Player of the Year, added 25 points, 13 boards, and 3 blocks. When those two were on the court, OKC had control.
But basketball is a five-man game, and the drop-off beyond those two was steep. The rest of the roster combined for just 42 points on 15-of-40 shooting. That’s not going to cut it - not when the Pacers are knocking down 16 threes and playing like they’ve got a score to settle after last June’s Finals heartbreak.
The Thunder are known for their depth. It’s been one of the defining strengths of this squad all season.
But that depth is being tested in a big way. Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, Ajay Mitchell, and Aaron Wiggins - all key rotation players, all sidelined.
That’s not just a handful of guys; that’s arguably OKC’s third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth best players. Any team, no matter how well-built, would feel that loss.
And it’s not just about missing talent - it’s about missing roles. Williams and Mitchell are the secondary creators, the guys who take pressure off Gilgeous-Alexander when he sits or draws extra attention.
Without them, the offense gets stagnant. Wiggins is the lone bench scorer who can create his own shot - a luxury most teams don’t have, and one OKC desperately needs right now.
Hartenstein is the only other true seven-footer behind Holmgren, and his absence leaves the Thunder thin on rim protection and rebounding. As for Caruso?
His two-way impact and relentless energy are almost impossible to replicate.
So yes, this was a game OKC could’ve - and probably should’ve - won. But the bigger concern isn’t one night against a motivated Pacers team. It’s what lies ahead.
The Thunder have two more at home - against Toronto and New Orleans - but then the schedule stiffens. The West is a minefield, and with the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Rockets, and yes, even the Spurs all jockeying for position, there’s no margin for error.
If Oklahoma City wants to keep its grip on the top seed - and more importantly, enter the postseason at full strength - they’ll need to get healthy, and fast. Because right now, the scariest thing in the Thunder’s path isn’t another contender. It’s the injury report.