The Oklahoma City Thunder are heading west for a Wednesday night showdown with the Phoenix Suns - their fourth meeting of the season. OKC has taken two of the first three matchups, but the Suns stole one at the buzzer back on January 4, so there’s still plenty of unfinished business between these two.
The Thunder come into this one riding high off a 119-110 win over the Lakers on Monday - a much-needed bounce-back after a tough stretch. Jalen Williams looked sharp in his return from a hamstring strain, dropping 23 points and giving OKC a much-needed offensive spark. Chet Holmgren added a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, continuing to show the kind of two-way impact that’s made him one of the league’s most intriguing young bigs.
But OKC is still navigating some tough injury luck. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, remains sidelined with an abdominal strain - a significant absence that shifts a lot of the offensive load elsewhere.
Rookies Ajay Mitchell and Nikola Topic are also unavailable, with Mitchell dealing with the same abdominal issue and Topic currently down in the G League. Brooks Barnhizer is also on a G League two-way assignment, and Thomas Sorber remains out for the season with a torn ACL.
On the other side, the Suns are coming off a 120-111 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night. Dillon Brooks led the charge with 23 gritty points - an effort that helped Phoenix hold off Luka Doncic and company. Devin Booker had a quieter night with 19 points and six assists, but his playmaking still gave Phoenix the balance it needed to close things out.
Because the Suns are on the second night of a back-to-back, their official injury report hasn’t dropped yet. But it’s safe to say they’ll be without a couple of key rotation pieces. Grayson Allen is out with a knee sprain, and Isaiah Livers remains sidelined due to a shoulder issue.
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT from Phoenix, and while both teams are dealing with injuries, there’s no shortage of storylines.
OKC’s young core continues to grow in the absence of their MVP, while the Suns are trying to build momentum in a crowded Western Conference race. With the season series on the line, expect a competitive, high-energy battle in the desert.