The Oklahoma City Thunder will be short-handed again tonight in Phoenix, and the list is a painful one. After an emotional win over the Los Angeles Clippers last night, OKC ruled out Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace for the matchup with the Suns.
Williams is dealing with a left lower leg injury, Holmgren has right patellar tendinitis and Wallace is out with left shoulder soreness. Jaylin Williams, who exited the Clippers game with a wrist injury, is not listed on the injury report.
After Jalen Williams went down, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t sugarcoat the moment.
"You got to play the hand you're dealt in life. It is what it is. It sucks, but it's part of the game," Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame after Williams' injury.
"We have a team for a reason, guys that are ready to step in place, make a difference out there on the floor. Hold the fort down until those guys come back. Also support those guys in their journey, super unfortunate ... but yeah, we'll be okay."
Even with those absences, Oklahoma City enters at 3-0 and is still expected to carry the favorite’s label against Phoenix on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Suns are working through issues of their own. Oso Ighodaro, who had been listed as doubtful with a right oblique strain, has now been downgraded to out. Mark Williams remains sidelined after left shoulder surgery, and Drew Timme is also unavailable because of his G League two-way status.
That leaves Phoenix trying to answer a Thunder team that still brings plenty of size, with Isaiah Hartenstein and 7-foot-3 rookie Aday Mara in the mix even without Holmgren.
This is also the first time these teams will meet since Oklahoma City swept Phoenix in the first round of last season’s playoffs, giving the Suns an early shot at a response. That’s especially important with Phoenix sitting at 1-1 and looking for a cleaner rhythm after two uneven games.
"We just need to find a rhythm. We've got to work our way through it. It's not going to feel great every single night," Suns coach Jordan Ott said after their victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.
Tipoff is set for shortly after 5 p.m. MST.
In Other News...
Aday Mara Is Already Making OKC's Draft Choice Look Smarter
Aday Maras first stretch in Oklahoma City has given the Thunder plenty to like. The 12th overall pick has looked comfortable through his first three games, and the early returns have centered on the parts of his game that usually translate quickest: defense, awareness, and a feel for fitting into what a team already wants to do.
For a franchise that has earned a reputation for being patient and selective on draft night, Maras start only adds to the sense that the pick made sense. Around the rest of the Michigan pipeline, the early reviews have been more uneven, which only makes Maras steady opening look more encouraging for the Thunder as they continue to see how he settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Ajay Mitchell Is Giving The Thunder A Reason To Feel Better
Ajay Mitchell has given the Thunder a small but meaningful early-season lift, and the progression has been obvious through Oklahoma Citys 3-0 start. He opened with 4 points in the first game, then followed with 12 points while making an impact on defense in the next outing, giving the staff something to build on from a young guard who is still carving out his place in the rotation.
Mitchell took another step in the third game, finishing with 18 points and contributing across the board as Oklahoma City kept rolling. With Jalen Williams sidelined and his return still uncertain, the Thunder need players like Mitchell to keep growing around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, and so far he is giving them a reason to feel better about the depth behind the top of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Jared McCain Suddenly Faces Real Pressure For The Thunder
Jared McCain arrived in Oklahoma City as part of a draft compensation deal that did not cost the Thunder any players, the kind of low-risk move that can look like a tidy front-office win if the development follows the script. Now the script has changed. With Jalen Williams injured early in the 2026-27 season and the roster thinner on the wing after recent trades, McCain is suddenly being asked to do more than just fit in.
His minutes and responsibility are expected to climb as the Thunder try to keep the offense on track without one of its key creators. For Oklahoma City, the stakes are bigger than one players workload. If McCain handles the expanded role, the deal starts to look like a steal and the Thunder have a better chance of staying effective through Williams absence. If he does not, the margin for error gets a lot smaller. [Read more 🡒]