Draymond Green Says Thunder Are Out Of The Championship Picture After Recent Injuries
Warriors star Draymond Green reveals the true implications of Jalen Williams' absence for the Thunder.
Latest news and updates about the Thunder
Warriors star Draymond Green reveals the true implications of Jalen Williams' absence for the Thunder.
Peacock will debut an NBA whiparound show on Nov. 2, replacing the second half of its usual doubleheader. After the Oklahoma City Thunder‑Cleveland Cavaliers game, the broadcast will jump between all night’s late‑time games, offering quick highlights. Noah Eagle hosts, with former coach Doc Rivers and former NBA player Brian Scalabrine as analysts; both also appear on the pre‑game studio panel. The format mirrors NBC’s successful Gold Zone and Sunday Stretch shows and aims to improve on earlier NBA whiparound attempts like NBA Crunchtime. This marks the first confirmed use of NBC’s NBA rights for a whiparound program.
After a 1-2 start to the 2026-27 season, the Phoenix Suns face backcourt woes as Devin Booker scores just three points in a loss to the Thunder and Jalen Green struggles to fit alongside him. Insider Brett Siegel suggests the Suns might use Green’s contract as trade bait to land a true point guard, though cap constraints make a rapid move unlikely. With blowout defeats to Portland and Oklahoma City fueling frustration, the trade talk could intensify if the Suns' early struggles persist.
The Mavericks list Caleb Martin as available (right thumb splint) for Friday’s game vs. the Houston Rockets, while Naji Marshall (illness) remains questionable. Santi Aldama (right knee surgery) and Tarik Biberović (right heel bursitis) are doubtful, and Sergio De Larrea (right knee sprain) and Dereck Lively II (foot surgery) are ruled out. Dallas sits 3‑2 after a 120‑96 win over OKC, with Cooper Flagg posting 26 points. Marshall has missed two games, averaging 13.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists in the first three contests. Houston, 5‑0, lists Alperen Şengün and Marcus Smart as questionable. Tip‑off is 7 p.m. CT at the American Airlines Center.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is calling for the OKC Thunder to get tougher on the boards, and Aday Mara needs to be the one to lead the charge.
The Oklahoma City Thunder fall 120-96 to the Dallas Mavericks, exposing growing pains as they play without Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace. Coach Mark Daigneault acknowledges the blowout, crediting Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving for the Mavericks’ surge and noting the heavy minutes given to rookies Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz and Josh Dix. Despite the loss, Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander says roster absences are familiar and the team will rebound as the road trip continues with a game against the Rockets on Saturday.
During an Inside the NBA segment after the Mavericks’ blowout win over the Thunder, Kyrie Irving and Charles Barkley discuss mentorship, and Barkley claims he’s “won a world championship.” Shaquille O’Neal immediately interrupts, mock‑questioning the claim and prompting laughter. The banter highlights Barkley’s lack of an NBA title, while Irving’s actual championship is referenced. Shaq continues to rib Barkley, who later seems confused by the joke, and notes his upcoming retirement with Ernie Johnson after this season.
Arizona Sports insider John Gambadoro publicly refutes reports that the Phoenix Suns’ locker room is fracturing over a lack of a true point guard. Citing injuries to centers Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro and the integration of new players, Gambadoro argues the team’s early‑season woes—three games in, with a disappointing loss to Portland and OKC—are being blown out of proportion. While fans note offensive and defensive inconsistencies, the insider predicts players will deny any internal dissension if questioned.
NBA insider Marc Stein says Oklahoma City’s "dream" trade target is New Orleans forward Herb Jones, but the price is steep. The Pelicans would demand two future first‑round picks for Jones, while a similar deal for Trey Murphy could cost three firsts. With seven first‑rounders on board over the next three years and trade exceptions totaling $38.3 million, the Thunder can absorb the cost, yet Jones’ $14.8 million salary this season jumps to $20.8 million next year. Injuries to Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace leave the Thunder weighing short‑term, expiring‑contract options as they approach the trade deadline.
The Philadelphia 76ers have filed for a Disabled Player Exception (DPE) after rookie center Ariel Hukporti suffered a season‑ending Achilles tear in his preseason debut. If approved, the DPE would be worth $1.7 million—half of his $3.4 million contract—allowing the over‑cap Sixers to sign a one‑year free agent or acquire a player on a final‑year contract. While the amount is modest and may not be usable until after Dec. 13, it could become valuable post‑trade deadline for buyout targets. The league’s deadline to request a DPE is Jan. 15, with any granted exception expiring Mar. 10 if unused. Other clubs like the Thunder and Kings are also expected to seek DPEs.
The OKC Thunder may be looking for familiar faces if they ultimately choose to make in-season additions.
A wave of early‑season injuries is reshaping the NBA landscape and could benefit the Philadelphia 76ers. While teams like the Thunder, Raptors, Timberwolves, Jazz and Magic grapple with key players out for weeks or months, the Sixers have all five starters healthy and just secured a 114‑109 win over an injury‑hit Pacers squad. The Sixers’ schedule lets them dodge many of these absentees, potentially easing their Eastern Conference race and reducing the load on Joel Embiid and LeBron James. Meanwhile, Tyrese Maxey is thriving—averaging 28.4 points, 4.6 assists and earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week—positioning him for All‑NBA honors and a lucrative contract extension. The article explores how the injury surge may both open doors and create new challenges for Philadelphia.
As Día de Muertos looms, the NBA’s injury report reads like a Halloween nightmare—roughly 15% of players (79 athletes) are sidelined early in the season. High-profile setbacks include Jalen Williams (OKC, fractured fibula), Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves, knee surgery), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Utah, MCL tear) and Kawhi Leonard (Toronto, knee swelling). Yet the New York Knicks stand out, fielding a fully healthy starting five for the fourth straight season. Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Karl‑Anthony Towns have logged 940 combined minutes in 2024‑25 and remain injury‑free through the first four games, a rarity in a league plagued by ailments. The contrast highlights the Knicks’ durability amid a league‑wide health crisis.
Three games into the season, the Phoenix Suns are reportedly dealing with growing locker‑room frustration over the absence of a true point guard. NBA Insider Chris Haynes points to Devin Booker’s three‑point performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the team’s bottom‑half ranking in assists per game and three‑point percentage as evidence. With Jalen Green and Booker handling the backcourt, the Suns lack the playmaking that helped Booker thrive during the Chris Paul era, while Green has never averaged more than 3.7 assists. New starters Miles Bridges and rookie center Khaman Maluach haven’t eased the offensive woes, prompting concerns the lack of a floor‑general could hinder future success.
Luguentz "Lu" Dort admits his exit from the Oklahoma City Thunder was driven by financial realities, describing the move as emotional yet inevitable before his July trade to the Atlanta Hawks.
The Dallas Mavericks (3-2) snap a losing streak with a dominant 120-96 win over the injury‑hit Oklahoma City Thunder (4-1) at the American Airlines Center on Oct. 28, 2026. Coach Dusty May praised the team’s effort, turnover control and emerging winning habits, while highlighting the return of Caleb Martin and Kyrie Irving’s gradual comeback after an ACL tear. Rookie Cooper Flagg impressed with paint aggression and playmaking, drawing comparisons to Irving’s unselfish style. The win marks the Mavericks’ first winning record since March 5, 2025, and sets up a tough upcoming opponent.
Draymond Green believes the Oklahoma City Thunder’s championship hopes have taken a major hit after injuries to Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace, warning that the losses could become especially costly in the NBA playoffs. The post Draymond Green doubts Thunder’s title chances after injuries appeared first on TalkBasket.net .
The Oklahoma City Thunder need someone to claim their 15th roster spot—will Josh Dix be ready?
The Dallas Mavericks’ rocky start to the 2026‑27 season reflects a tough early schedule and key injuries, notably Cooper Flagg’s shoulder sprain. After a 122‑106 loss to the San Antonio Spurs—where the Mavs shot just 50 points from starters and rattled 18 turnovers—Dallas rebounded with a 113‑109 win over Miami, highlighted by Flagg’s historic 29‑point, 11‑assist, five‑steal line that tied his career highs. The next night, the Mavericks upset the Oklahoma City Thunder, extending a potential two‑game winning streak and showcasing the Irving‑Flagg‑Washington core. Despite defensive lapses and roster adjustments, flashes from bench players like Sergio de Larrea and new two‑way contract Walter Clayton Jr. suggest growth potential as the team reshapes its identity.
Dillon Brooks lashes out at NBA referees, claiming they give Oklahoma City Thunder a free pass on flopping after a 125-114 loss. Brooks argues the refs have a “list of floppers” and that OKC’s fouls go unpunished because of their reputation. He also disputes a recent technical call, saying it should have been a double technical, and questions the prevalence of flagrant fouls in what he calls a physical game. In the defeat, Brooks posts 19 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals and three threes, while Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander scores 26 for the Thunder.
May said Martin has a real presence in the locker room after Martin scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting in his first game back from a right thumb sprain.
The Dallas Mavericks exercised the fourth‑year option on rookie forward Zaccharie Rischer, locking him in for $17.4 million—about 9% of the salary cap—after a 120‑96 win over Oklahoma City on Oct. 26, 2026. The 21‑year‑old, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, has shown defensive promise, averaging eight points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks in his first four games, though his shooting is struggling at just over 30% overall and 17.6% from three. Coach Dusty May praised his relentless motor, calling him a “cyborg.” Rischer’s impact is already a +26 net rating, and the Mavericks see him as a key piece for future growth.
The OKC Thunder may have subliminally hinted that they won't be applying for a DPE after all, what with their rather encouraging Jalen Williams injury update.
The Dallas Mavericks beat the injury-depleted Oklahoma City Thunder 120-96 on Wednesday night, using a season-best 16 made 3-pointers to hand the defending champions their first loss of the season. The post Mavericks cruise past Thunder as Dallas dominates from 3-point range appeared first on TalkBasket.net .
Rookie sensation Cooper Flagg drove the Dallas Mavericks to a 120-96 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, delivering a career‑high 8 assists while scoring 26 points in just over 33 minutes. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft now averages 25.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists through four games, showcasing improved playmaking after a recent 11‑assist outing in Miami. Flagg credited growing confidence, team trust and his ability to draw help defense, noting how Kyrie Irving’s gravity opens up the floor. Coach Dusty May praised Flagg’s unselfishness and rim attacks as key to the win.