The Thunder are finally getting a break on the injury front, at least for one night.
Alex Caruso has been removed from Oklahoma City’s injury report and is expected to play Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a welcome bit of news for a team that has spent the opening stretch of the 2026-27 season dealing with one setback after another. Jalen Williams’ ankle fracture and Chet Holmgren’s patellar tendon tear have already hit the core rotation hard, making Caruso’s return a rare positive development.
Caruso has missed the last three games after spraining his ankle in the middle of Oklahoma City’s 125-114 win over Phoenix on October 26. When the injury first happened, the concern was that he could be out for a while. ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania described the ankle issue as “nasty” and said Caruso was expected to miss “some level of time” because of it.
Instead, the absence looks like it will last only a week. That gives the Thunder a chance to bring back one of their defensive anchors just as they prepare for another meeting with Cleveland.
Wednesday’s matchup is a rematch of Monday’s game, when Oklahoma City pulled out a 117-112 win to end a two-game skid. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carried the offense with 43 points, his 35th career game with at least 40. He also extended his run of 30-point performances against the Cavaliers to seven straight.
If he reaches 30 again on Wednesday, Gilgeous-Alexander will move past Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady for the most consecutive games against Cleveland in which the same player has scored 30 or more points.
That possibility hardly feels far-fetched. Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 31.3 points per game since the 2022-23 season, and he has already topped 30 in nearly half of his games this season. With that kind of scoring rhythm, the Thunder star is in position to keep the streak going against Cleveland.
In Other News...
Former Sixer Dalen Terry Just Landed An Intriguing New Chance
Dalen Terrys latest stop gives him another shot to stick in the NBA, and it comes at a time when Oklahoma City can use the help. The former first-round pick was waived by the Warriors after training camp, then left Golden States G League affiliate to join the Thunder, who had an open roster spot and a clear need for wing depth.
For Oklahoma City, the move is as much about covering ground as it is about upside. The Thunder are navigating multiple long-term injuries, so adding another athletic perimeter option makes sense even if the arrangement is expected to be a modest one. Terry now gets a chance to compete for a role in a situation where opportunity is available, and the Thunder get a low-risk look at a player with some pedigree still attached to his name. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Title Hopes Suddenly Hinge On Two Massive Unknowns
Jalen Williams injury has changed the feel around Oklahoma Citys title chase, because a team built to contend now has to navigate the stretch run without one of its most important pieces. NBA insider Zach Lowe has said Williams could still make it back this season, but the practical expectation around the league is that the Thunder are preparing for a long absence while still leaving the door open for a late return if the team or player never shuts it.
That uncertainty is landing at the same time Oklahoma City is trying to fortify the roster elsewhere. The Thunder signed Dalen Terry and are expected to keep working the trade market before the deadline, with the front office likely looking for salary-based moves to add depth without touching Williams. For a team with championship aspirations, the next few weeks may be less about one injured star than about how aggressively the Thunder choose to patch the holes around him. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Fill Final Roster Spot As Rotation Pressure Suddenly Grows
Oklahoma City is using its final roster spot on wing depth, with reports saying the Thunder are signing Dalen Terry to a two-year deal. Terry, who has spent time with the Bulls and 76ers, gives the defending group another versatile defender at a moment when the margin for error has shrunk, even if the team has not officially announced the move yet.
The timing matters because the Thunder are suddenly navigating a stretch without several key rotation pieces, and that has opened the door for a player like Terry to matter sooner than expected. His fit is straightforward on paper, defense, length and energy, but the bigger question is how much responsibility he can absorb if Oklahoma City needs him to play real minutes while the roster gets healthy again. [Read more 🡒]