After a difficult mid-season stretch, the Oklahoma City Thunder has played much better basketball lately, winning 7 of their last 8 games and 9 of their last 11. 6 of the 9 wins have come against playoff teams, but perhaps the most impressive aspect of the recent run has been the extent of the injury report. OKC continues to struggle with a lengthy injury report, and with only 18 games remaining, it would be nice for the team to get healthy in time to find some rhythm ahead of the playoffs.
The Thunder wrapped up a 3-game road trip with a 103-100 victory over the Knicks in New York City on Wednesday night, and now they return home to Oklahoma City for a 4-game homestand. Tonight they host the Golden State Warriors, who have struggled in the absence of the injured Steph Curry. Still, the Warriors have some young talent that cannot be overlooked. Just two nights ago, they defeated the Houston Rockets 115-113 in overtime.
OKC enters this game as a heavy favorite, and the Warriors haven’t won consecutive games since mid-January. The Thunder would do well to take care of business against the Warriors as they have a difficult schedule ahead, which includes the Denver Nuggets on Monday and the Boston Celtics next Thursday.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 7:30 PM CT
Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: ABC
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, Golden State Warriors Official Game Notes
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Cason Wallace
- SF: Isaiah Joe
- PF: Luguentz Dort
- C: Jaylin Williams
Warriors
- PG: Brandin Podziemski
- SG: De’Anthony Melton
- SF: Gui Santos
- PF: Draymond Green
- C: Al Horford
Injury Report
Thunder
- Branden Carlson (strained lower back) is OUT.
- Alex Caruso (left hip contusion) is OUT.
- Isaiah Hartenstein (left calf contusion) is OUT.
- Chet Holmgren (flu) is OUT.
- Ajay Mitchell (strained abdominal; sprained left ankle) is OUT.
- Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery) is OUT.
- Jalen Williams (strained right hamstring) is OUT.
Warriors
- Jimmy Butler III (right ACL surgery) is OUT.
- Seth Curry (let sciatic nerve irritation) is OUT.
- Steph Curry (right patellofemoral pain syndrome) is OUT.
- De’Anthony Melton (left knee injury management) is OUT.
- Moses Moody (sprained right wrist) is OUT.
- Gary Payton II (left ankle impingement) is PROBABLE.
- Kristaps Porzingis (illness) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Will Richard (sprained right ankle) is QUESTIONABLE.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 30-32 against the Warriors in the regular season (17-13 at home, 12-19 on the road) and 3-4 in the playoffs (2-1 at home, 1-3 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series with the Warriors 7 times, lost it 8 times, and tied twice.
- The Thunder went 1-2 against the Warriors last season (0-1 at home, 1-1 on the road).
- The Thunder is 3-0 against the Warriors so far this season (1-0 at home, 2-0 on the road).