The Thunder get a welcome boost tonight as they prepare for another meeting with the Cavaliers in Oklahoma City.
After getting blown out in back-to-back games against the Mavericks and Rockets, OKC steadied itself with a road win over Cleveland, and it did so behind a massive 43-point night from two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Even with injuries piling up early in the season, the Thunder have shown they still have enough firepower to hang with the league’s middle tier and beyond.
Now they get a little more help on the injury front for the rematch.
Alex Caruso is off the injury report after missing time with an ankle sprain suffered in the game after the Suns. That matters for Oklahoma City, which is still without Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and third-year guard Cason Wallace.
With those names sidelined, Caruso becomes the Thunder’s lone remaining All-Defense member, and his return gives the lineup a needed two-way jolt. He was shooting 50% from three before the injury.
There is one new concern for the Thunder, though. Jaylin Williams has been added to the report with lower back spasms and is questionable against Cleveland.
The Cavaliers are dealing with injury issues of their own. Peyton Watson, who was acquired from the Nuggets in the offseason and had been listed as questionable, has now been ruled out with right hamstring tightness/soreness. Jaylon Tyson is also among Cleveland’s notable absences.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT at Paycom Center.
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 🡒]