The Oklahoma City Thunder (31-7) visit the Memphis Grizzlies (16-21) on Friday at 8:00 PM ET. Both teams enter the contest facing significant injuries that could shape rotations and strategy.
Oklahoma City will be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (right ankle sprain), Isaiah Hartenstein (right soleus strain), Chet Holmgren (bilateral shins soreness), Thomas Sorber (right ACL recovery), Nikola Topic (surgery), Cason Wallace (left great toe soreness), and Jaylin Williams (right heel bursitis). Alex Caruso is listed as questionable with low back soreness.
Memphis will be missing Ja Morant (right calf contusion), Brandon Clarke (right calf strain), Zach Edey (left ankle stress), Ty Jerome (right calf strain), and Scotty Pippen Jr. (left great toe surgery recovery). John Konchar is doubtful after left thumb UCL surgery, while Cedric Coward and Vince Williams Jr. are questionable.
Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder with 31.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game, though he will miss this matchup. Holmgren adds 18.2 points and 8.3 rebounds, while Jalen Williams averages 17.2 points and 5.5 assists. Ajay Mitchell contributes 13.9 points per game.
For the Grizzlies, Morant averages 19.0 points and 7.6 assists, Jaren Jackson Jr. provides 18.5 points and 5.6 rebounds, and Santi Aldama adds 13.9 points and 6.7 boards. Coward contributes 13.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
The Thunder are coming off a 129-125 overtime victory over the Utah Jazz, following a 97-124 loss to Charlotte. Memphis lost 98-117 to the Phoenix Suns but had a narrow 106-105 win over San Antonio.
Neither team has faced each other this season. Oklahoma City leads the Western Conference and will rely on role players to compensate for injuries, while Memphis aims to stabilize its rotation amid a series of key absences.
