Thunder Visit Hawks Amid Injury Troubles and Intense Early-Season Drama
The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Atlanta Hawks are squaring off in what’s shaping up to be an intriguing early-season matchup, but both sides are entering this one with plenty of storylines — and quite a few injury concerns.
For the Thunder, this game in Atlanta marks the third stop of their three-game road trip, and they’ve already been through the wringer. Just a couple of nights ago, Oklahoma City pulled off another wild double-overtime victory, beating the Indiana Pacers 141–135. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was absolutely sensational, scoring a career-high 55 points and almost single-handedly carrying a shorthanded OKC squad to the win. The Thunder improved to 2–0, but those victories have come at a cost — and it’s showing on their growing injury report.
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into Saturday’s matchup, the Thunder’s lineup looks pretty banged up. Jalen Williams remains out following wrist surgery, while key players like Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace are listed as questionable with back soreness and a knee sprain, respectively. Alex Caruso is sidelined with a concussion, Isaiah Joe with a knee contusion, and Kenrich Williams continues to recover from knee surgery. On top of that, Nikola Topic (testicular surgery) and rookie Thomas Sorber (torn ACL) are also unavailable. It’s safe to say the Thunder are far from full strength.
As for the Hawks, they’re coming off a dramatic 111–107 win over the Orlando Magic on Friday night, where Trae Young once again played the hero — dropping 25 points and sealing the deal with six crucial points in the final minute. That victory helped Atlanta bounce back from a tough opening loss to Toronto, but their own roster hasn’t been without setbacks either.
Star forward Kristaps Porzingis and young wing Jalen Johnson, both questionable heading into the night, have officially been ruled out. Zaccharie Risacher, their highly touted rookie, also missed the Magic game, leaving head coach Quin Snyder to get creative with his rotations. Fortunately, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Okongwu stepped up well in their absence.
Analysts have noted that Oklahoma City’s biggest challenge might not just be health — but fatigue. After grinding through two consecutive double-overtime thrillers, their legs could be feeling heavy. The Thunder have also struggled from beyond the arc so far, ranking among the league’s coldest shooting teams from deep. Meanwhile, Atlanta’s defense, anchored by Dyson Daniels and Mo Gueye, has been getting stronger with each game and could make life difficult for Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s been forced to shoulder a massive offensive load.
Tip-off from Atlanta is set for 6:30 p.m. CT, and while it’s still early in the season, this game carries a lot of intrigue. The Thunder are chasing a perfect 3–0 start despite mounting injuries, while the Hawks are looking to prove they can win without their stars. One thing’s for sure — both teams will have to dig deep to get it done tonight.
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