OKC’s long injury report for NBA Finals rematch against Pacers

The Oklahoma City Thunder returns from its four-game road trip to face the Indiana Pacers in the rematch of the NBA Finals with more injured players than before. All-Star Jaylen Williams joined Isaiah Hartenstein on the injury report as long-term injuries to two Thunder starters leave a void in the frontcourt. Williams strained his right hamstring in the 122-120 loss to the Miami Heat. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Hartenstein has not played since Dec. 28, when he suffered a right calf injury in a 129-104 win against the Philadelphia 76ers. Ajay Mitchell scored 18 points in the first half before losing in the third quarter in a 122-102 win against the Milwaukee Bucks. He has been ruled out with an abdominal strain for Friday’s game against the Pacers, who have dealt with lingering injuries all season.

Tyrese Halliburton’s torn Achilles set a bleak tone for the Pacers in 2025-26. Benedict Maturin, dealing with a sprained right thumb, missed nearly half of the regular season as an extended injury report robbing fans of the feeling of an NBA Finals rematch between two teams that went the distance in their seven-game series last June. Obi Taupin (right foot; stress fracture) is also out for the Pacers, and Quenton Jackson (right ankle; sprain) is questionable.

Alex Caruso has been ruled out with a right adductor strain, while Jaylin Williams (left strain; contusion) and Aaron Wiggins (right groin; soreness) are listed as questionable for Oklahoma City.

Mark Daigneault on the shorthand Thunder’s approach

Thunder head coach Marc Daigneault praised his reinforcement team amid so many injured players, as the defending champions beat the Cavs and Bucks with just 10 and 11 players, respectively, near the end of a four-game road trip. Daigneault says that’s a testament to the Thunder ruthless approach.

“What I love about this team is that we have a group of guys who see those types of setbacks as a challenge,” Daigneault said. “And that became our challenge tonight with just Chet in the frontcourt. So we played a little bit (for) a lot of minutes. Kenrich did a great job, but the whole team did a great job. Even with Allen there, we were small in the first half and the guys really battled.

“Then, I thought, huge minutes from Wiggins, Isaiah Joe; those guys were big tonight. Not just the shooting and the offense, but the way they moved the ball, and the way they defended and stuck their noses in the scrimmage. It was a great overall team win,” Daigneault concluded.

The Thunder finished 3-1 on their four-game road trip.