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Thunder Lead Series 2-1, Adjust Rotation Amid Injuries

5/25/2026

49 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Thunder Adjust Rotation

Ajay Mitchell is ruled out of Game 4 with a calf strain.
Jalen Williams is questionable for Game 4 after left-hamstring soreness that kept him out of Game 3.
Coach Mark Daigneault must adjust the Game 4 rotation, likely giving more minutes to Cason Wallace.
The Thunder lead the series 2-1 after a 123-108 win in Game 3, with the bench outscoring San Antonio 133-48.

Summary

Thunder Injury Woes

De'Aaron Fox re-injured his ankle and Dylan Harper dealt with an adductor problem in Game 3, leaving both players' Game 4 status uncertain.
Ajay Mitchell's flagrant foul on Stephon Castle triggered a technical-foul call, a brief scuffle with Devin Vassell, and caused Mitchell to leave Game 3 and miss Game 4 with a hamstring strain.
Oklahoma City leads the series 2-1, increasing pressure on the Spurs because of injury doubts for Game 4.

History

Historical Context

After the 1998 NBA Finals, where the Chicago Bulls overcame Michael Jordan’s hamstring injury and a 4-2 series win over the Utah Jazz by relying on contributions from role players, teams have repeatedly depended on roster depth in playoff turnarounds. The 2024 Thunder-Spurs matchup mirrors that pattern, with coach Mark Daigneault reshuffling lineups after Ajay Mitchell’s calf strain and De’Aaron Fox’s ankle injury.

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Thunder Adjust Rotation

Ajay Mitchell is ruled out of Game 4 with a calf strain.
Jalen Williams is questionable for Game 4 after left-hamstring soreness that kept him out of Game 3.
Coach Mark Daigneault must adjust the Game 4 rotation, likely giving more minutes to Cason Wallace.
The Thunder lead the series 2-1 after a 123-108 win in Game 3, with the bench outscoring San Antonio 133-48.

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