The Oklahoma City Thunder has a weird last couple of games. First, they set a franchise record for points scored in a game after dropping the Celtics 150-117. Then, they followed that up with a 126-115 loss on the road to the Orlando Magic. To add to the weirdness, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did not play against the Celtics, but he did against the Magic. I don’t think any of this means anything in the big picture; it’s just interesting.
Now the Thunder is set to host the Washington Wizards on Friday night. OKC defeated the Wizards in Washington last November off an incredible display from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, which included a game-winning three to seal the deal 121-120. Both teams are dealing with some injuries that will surely have an impact on the game.
The Wizards will be without Bradley Beal, who has missed 15 of 39 games this season with various injuries. He’s out again tonight with a strained hamstring after playing just 13 minutes on Tuesday night against the Bucks. Meanwhile, OKC still lacks a lot of their frontcourt players, which could present as a big problem with Kristaps Porzingis and Daniel Gafford on the other side of the ball. The Thunder should be able to do work with a much more talented backcourt, but if the Wizards control the rebounding aspect of the game, it could be a rough night at home for OKC.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 7 PM CT
Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: Bally Sports Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live tweets and discussion during the game
Game Notes: Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes, Washington Wizards Official Game Notes
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Josh Giddey
- SF: Jalen Williams
- PF: Luguentz Dort
- C: Mike Muscala
Wizards
- PG: Monte Morris
- SG: Corey Kispert
- SF: Kyle Kuzma
- PF: Kristaps Porzingis
- C: Daniel Gafford
Injury Report
Thunder
- Ousmane Dieng is OUT (non-displaced fractured right wrist).
- Chet Holmgren is OUT (right foot surgery).
- Eugene Omoruyi is OUT (G League — two-way).
- Aleksej Pokusevski is OUT (left tibial plateau; non-displaced fracture).
- Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is OUT (sprained right ankle).
- Jaylin Williams is OUT (sprained left ankle).
Wizards
- Bradley Beal is OUT (strained left hamstring).
- Johnny Davis is OUT (G League — on assignment).
- Devon Dotson is OUT (G League — two-way).
- Taj Gibson is QUESTIONABLE (left groin soreness).
- Isaiah Todd is OUT (G League — on assignment).
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 15-12 against the Wizards (10-4 at home, 5-8 on the road).
- The Thunder has won the season series with the Wizards 4 times, lost it 3 times, and tied 7 times.
- The Thunder lost the season series 0-2 against the Wizards last season (0-1 at home, 0-1 on the road).
- The Thunder is 1-0 against the Wizards so far this season (0-0 at home, 1-0 on the road).