The Thunder are back at Paycom Center on Saturday night, and they’ll try to keep rolling against a Wizards team that comes in on short rest after a high-scoring loss in Atlanta.
Oklahoma City enters at 7-2 after blasting the Memphis Grizzlies 128-97 on Friday, while Washington sits at 4-5 following a 139-132 road defeat to the Hawks. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CST on Saturday, Nov. 7 in Oklahoma City.
For viewers, the game will air on KSBI OKC. It will also be available through Thunder+ and Fubo, which offers a free trial.
The injury report is still empty for both teams. Since this is the second night of a back-to-back for each side, neither the Thunder nor the Wizards has submitted updates yet.
Even so, the expectation is that Oklahoma City will keep its regular approach intact. The Thunder are already dealing with injuries, and they’ve won three straight while leaning on the play of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell. That duo has powered the offense, and the defense has stayed sharp even with three former All-Defensive players out.
Justin Martinez is calling it 108-98 for OKC.
The betting line has the Thunder favored by 11.5 points, with the over/under set at 219.5. Oklahoma City is listed at -500 on the moneyline, while Washington is +375.
The projected Thunder starters are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ajay Mitchell, Kenrich Williams, Aday Mara and Isaiah Hartenstein.
Washington’s projected starters are Trae Young, Kyshawn George, AJ Dybantsa, Alex Sarr and Deandre Ayton.
In Other News...
Thunder May Have Found Shai Gilgeous-Alexanders Surprise Scoring Help
With the Thunder shorthanded in the middle of a stretch that has tested their depth, a new frontcourt option has started to emerge alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The injuries have thinned Oklahoma Citys rotation and forced the team to look harder at who can take on more responsibility, especially on the offensive end, where every extra source of scoring matters.
Aday Mara gave them a reason to keep looking in his direction in a win over the Washington Wizards, showing enough poise and activity to suggest there may be more there than just spot duty. Oklahoma City is now weighing whether to expand his role as it tries to keep the offense afloat while key pieces remain out, and that kind of internal answer can matter even more when the roster is stretched this thin. [Read more 🡒]
Nikola Topic Just Reached An Important Step In His Thunder Return
Nikola Topic has reached a meaningful checkpoint in his recovery, with the Thunder assigning the young guard to their G League affiliate as he works his way back from back surgery. It is the latest step in a stop-and-start beginning to his NBA career for the No. 12 pick in the 2024 draft, whose development has been slowed by a string of injuries and illnesses since he entered the league.
For Oklahoma City, the move is less about the short-term box score than the long view, giving Topic a chance to get back on the floor in a controlled setting and start rebuilding momentum. He has already spent the entire regular season sidelined, and now the next question is how quickly he can turn this assignment into real game action again. [Read more 🡒]
Jared McCain Is Giving The Thunder Exactly What Shai Needed
Jared McCain gave Oklahoma City the kind of early lift that can make a lopsided game feel settled before it really starts. In the Thunders 124-97 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA Cup West Group B stage, McCain finished with 21 points, five rebounds, four steals and a block, and his first-quarter burst helped set the tone for a night when the ball kept moving and the pressure kept coming from both ends.
What stood out afterward was how naturally McCain fit into the Thunders team-first rhythm, especially with the offense spreading the load around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. McCain pointed to the cohesion on both sides of the floor, and it was easy to see why this version of Oklahoma City can make life easier on its star while still forcing opponents to deal with waves of different threats. [Read more 🡒]