Alex Caruso, Jaylin Williams Exit Okc Thunder Game Early

Before Monday's matinee matchup pinch Cleveland moreover tipped disconnected nan Oklahoma City Thunder were short-handed. Down a brace of starters arsenic All-NBA swingman Jalen Williams is nursing a correct hamstring strain and Isaiah Hartenstein is still successful thoroughfare apparel arsenic he deals pinch a correct soleus strain. On apical of their rookies, Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber, who person yet to debut.

In nan midst of nan first half against nan Cavaliers, nan Oklahoma City Thunder recovered themselves up by 17 points acknowledgment to a beardown adjacent earlier intermission that featured a 16-6 run.

The OKC Thunder knocked successful 10 triples astatine a 45% clip from downtown to thief summation this cushion while their defense held Cleveland to 35% from nan field, 22% from 3 constituent onshore and 75% astatine nan kindness stripe while producing 9 first-half takeaways against nan Cavaliers.

However, during nan people of nan opening 2 frames, nan Oklahoma City Thunder saw starting guardant Jaylin Williams, who sewage nan motion for this spot commencement against Cleveland's double large lineup owed to Hartenstein's injury, caput to nan locker room aft conscionable 8 minutes of action.

The Arkansas merchandise went up for a poster slam against Cleveland's shot-blocking large man, Jarrett Allen, who turned Williams distant astatine nan rim and near nan 2022 second-round prime tumbling connected nan hardwood pinch an awkward rotation connected his cervix successful nan process.

Williams ne'er emerged from nan locker room pinch nan Oklahoma City Thunder ruling nan large man retired for nan 2nd half of this game.

Defensive ace Alex Caruso was successful for nan Thunder's beardown adjacent to nan 2nd 4th earlier stepping connected chap protect stalwart Lu Dort's ft to onshore awkwardly connected nan crushed and hobbling to nan locker room during nan pursuing timeout.

Like Williams, Caruso ne'er returned to this contest, leaving some of their position up successful nan aerial agelong term.

The Oklahoma City Thunder person tabbed Williams arsenic retired pinch a little backmost contusion and Caruso arsenic dealing pinch correct groin soreness.

Up next, nan Oklahoma City Thunder wrap up this 4 crippled roadworthy travel successful Milwaukee arsenic they return connected nan Bucks connected Wednesday earlier returning to nan friends confines of nan Paycom Center connected Friday nighttime successful an NBA Finals rematch against nan Indiana Pacers.

Stay Tuned to Thunder connected SI for complete sum of this crippled against Cleveland and nan full 2025-26 run for Oklahoma City.