Thunder Overcome Major Injuries with Statement Win Against Suns
Cole Osburn
Just one day after losing two key starters to potentially season-ending injuries, the Oklahoma City Thunder showed why they remain one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA.
Behind a career-high performance from Ajay Mitchell, another strong night from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and an impressive showing from Jared McCain, the Thunder defeated the Phoenix Suns 125-114 on Monday, Oct. 26, improving to 4-0 on the season.
The victory came less than 24 hours after Oklahoma City suffered two devastating injuries during its 108-101 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
All-Star forward Jalen Williams suffered a dislocated left ankle and fractured fibula after landing awkwardly during the fourth quarter. Earlier in the game, guard Cason Wallace suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
Both players will require surgery and are expected to miss significant time. While neither has an official return date, the injuries could potentially keep both players out for the remainder of the season.
The losses are especially concerning for Oklahoma City, which relies heavily on Williams’ offensive versatility and Wallace’s defensive presence. Williams has developed into one of the Thunder’s most important offensive weapons alongside Gilgeous-Alexander, while Wallace has established himself as one of the team’s best perimeter defenders.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding two of their starters, the Thunder wasted little time proving they could still compete at a high level.
Mitchell stepped into the starting lineup in place of Williams and delivered the best performance of his young career. The third-year guard finished with 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting, along with five assists and two rebounds.
Mitchell scored 18 of his points in the first half, helping Oklahoma City establish a 67-53 halftime lead. His ability to attack the basket and create scoring opportunities gave the Thunder a much-needed offensive boost without Williams.
Gilgeous-Alexander continued to provide the leadership and scoring that have made him one of the league’s best players. The reigning two-time MVP finished with 26 points on 11-of-18 shooting, helping Oklahoma City maintain control throughout the game.
However, one of the biggest positives from the victory was the performance of McCain.
Starting in place of Wallace, McCain finished with 18 points and provided another reliable scoring option. He scored 10 points in the first half and knocked down a three-pointer late in the third quarter to extend Oklahoma City’s lead to 89-72.
McCain’s performance was particularly important considering the Thunder will need additional production from their guards throughout the season.
Oklahoma City’s depth was tested even further with Chet Holmgren sitting out because of right knee patellar tendinitis. The injury problems continued when Alex Caruso suffered a right ankle sprain late in the second quarter and did not return.
Even with four important players unavailable for much of the game, Oklahoma City never allowed Phoenix to take control.
The Thunder also made a major statement defensively, holding Suns’ star Devin Booker to just three points on 1-of-7 shooting. Booker entered the matchup coming off a 43-point performance against the Golden State Warriors.
Isaiah Hartenstein added 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Aday Mara contributed 11 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double.
Oklahoma City took control with a 22-6 run in the second quarter and put the game out of reach with a 12-2 run early in the fourth.
While the win against Phoenix was impressive, the Thunder still face major questions moving forward.
Losing Williams and Wallace for an extended period creates significant challenges on both ends of the floor. Their absence will force players like Mitchell and McCain into larger roles while putting additional pressure on Gilgeous-Alexander to carry the offense.
However, Monday night’s performance offered an early indication that Oklahoma City has the depth to remain competitive despite its injuries.
The Thunder are still undefeated, and if Mitchell and McCain can continue producing at this level, Oklahoma City could be in a much better position than expected while waiting for its injured starters to return.
For now, the Thunder have made one thing clear: even without some of their biggest contributors, they are not going to be an easy team to beat.
Oklahoma City will look to continue its undefeated start Wednesday, Oct. 28, when they travel to Dallas to face the Mavericks.
References
Associated Press. (2026, October 26). Ajay Mitchell, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead injury-riddled Thunder past Suns 125-114. The Washington Post.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nba/2026/10/26/suns-thunder-score/f485c07c-d1b0-11f1 -9931-2a41b76fc976_story.html
Field Level Media. (2026, October 27). Thunder overcome big injuries to beat Suns for fourth straight win. Reuters.
https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/thunder-overcome-big-injuries-beat-suns-fourth-straig ht-win–flm-2026-10-27/
Field Level Media. (2026, October 26). Thunder tasked with moving past Jalen Williams’ injury as Suns visit. Reuters.
https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/thunder-tasked-with-moving-past-jalen-williams-injur y-suns-visit–flm-2026-10-26/
Brewers Close to Closing the Door on Rays
Titus Small
The Milwaukee Brewers are close to closing the door on the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series.
The Brewers are only one game away from winning the World Series for the first time in franchise history. This is a big moment for Milwaukee, as they have dominated the series and currently hold a 3-0 lead. In their last game against the Rays, the Brewers won 10-1, leaving Tampa Bay with little chance to get back into the game. With the momentum Milwaukee has built, many people are beginning to lose hope that the Rays have a chance to come back.
The Rays will have to rely on their star pitcher, Griffin Jax, to step up if they want a chance to stay alive in the series. Yandy Díaz, one of their star hitters, will also need to make an impact at the plate if Tampa Bay hopes to mount a comeback.
This is a big deal for the Rays as well. Their organization has never won a World Series, meaning both teams are fighting for a major achievement in their franchise history.
If the Brewers win this game, it will be the first time since 1976 that a team has swept both the League Championship Series and the World Series. With Milwaukee’s lead, the Brewers could make history and claim their first World Series championship.
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