OKC’s Alex Caruso suffered a concussion, per NBA protocol
After Oklahoma City Thunder a veteran guard Alex Caruso helped raise the 2025 championship bannersuffered a concussion in a 125-124 double overtime win against the Houston Rockets. Caruso was appointed to the NBA concussion protocol.
After receiving his second championship ring, Caruso, who helped the Los Angeles Lakers win their last title in 2020, finished with eight points, three assists and two steals off the bench in the Thunder’s opener. However, his status for Oklahoma City’s second game of the regular season — against the Indiana Pacers in a rematch of the Finals — is in question.
Alex Caruso will join an extended injury list for the Thunder, including All-Star Jaylen Williams, who is still recovering from offseason surgery on his right wrist, and Isaiah Joe, who is dealing with a knee injury. Rookie Nikola Topic, who suffered a testicular injury during the preseason, has also been ruled out for Thursday’s game against the Pacers, along with Kenrich Williams, who will miss extended time after undergoing surgery on his left knee in September.
Mark Daigneault is relying on Thunder’s Ajay Mitchell due to injuries
With All-Star Jalen Williams and Isaiah Joe sidelined for the season opener against the Rockets, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault turned to Ajay Mitchell for reliefand he wasn’t surprised to see the sophomore quarterback lead his bench. Scoring 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-6 from deep, Mitchell delivered.
“I’m not surprised. He played like this before he got hurt last year. So we knew what we had with him,” Daigneault said. “He did a great job over the summer with his body and he came into training camp injury-free, and he did really well. This was his first game action since a few games ago in the preseason. So he came in with confidence and aggression, and we’re going to need that from him. But nobody was surprised by how he played.”
With Alex Caruso sidelined against the Pacers, Daigneault will likely turn to Mitchell for a bigger role off the bench.
2025-10-23 15:54:00
