Thunder Could Be Without Multiple Crucial Players For Game vs Pacers

The best of the West could be missing some critical contributors against a surging Indiana squad.

Nov 1, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) looks to pass the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Dillon Jones (3), guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and guard Alex Caruso (9) during the second quarter at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Murphy-Imagn Images / Brian Murphy-Imagn Images

The best team in the Western Conference could be missing some critical contributors against a surging Indiana Pacers club on Saturday night.

Indiana will be heading to the Paycom Center to face the mighty Oklahoma City Thunder. At 61-12, Oklahoma City boasts the best record in the NBA and has secured the No. 1 overall seed in the West for the second straight season.

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Led by top MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and first-time All-Star forward Jalen Williams, the young, deep Thunder look like world-beaters. Oklahoma City has won its last eight straight games.

History made pic.twitter.com/TU5FZ0Q7JP

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) March 28, 2025

Although Indiana's win streak is considerably shorter (one game), the Pacers have gone 8-2 across their last 10 bouts and are currently 43-30 on the year, good for the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. Indiana is 1.5 games clear of the No. 5-seeded Detroit Pistons (42-32) as of this writing, and is looking to stack wins.

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The Pacers have a sneaky chance to steal the No. 3 seed from the 46-27 New York Knicks, whom they trail by just three games. To be fair, Indiana didn't need homecourt advantage to survive New York in a seven-game second-round slugfest during last spring's playoffs, so not finishing with a better record wouldn't necessarily be a dealbreaker this time, either.

Indiana could get some injury luck against Oklahoma City on Saturday, however.

Per Rylan Stiles of Thunder On SI, two-time All-Defensive Team Thunder guard Alex Caruso is questionable to suit up due to a low back spasm, while reserve big man Jaylin Hilliams is also questionable to play through a tight left hip.

Key reserve wing Aaron Wiggins, however, has been shelved with left Achilles tendinitis.

Thunder injury report vs. Pacers
Alex Caruso (Back) Questionable
Jaylin Williams (Hip) Questionable
Isaiah Hartenstein (Nasal Fractures) Available
Aaron Wiggins (Achilles) OUT
Alex Ducas (Quad) OUT
Ousmane Dieng (Calf) OUT
Ajay Mitchell (Toe) OUT
Nikola Topic (ACL) OUT

— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) March 28, 2025

Missing all three of Caruso, Wiggins and Williams (not the All-Star Williams, but still a valuable player) would hurt Oklahoma City's chances against Indiana, a club that thrives on athleticism and pace along the wings and at the center position.

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This season, Caruso is averaging 6.9 points on .445/.357/.805 shooting splits, 2.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists a night. Through 70 healthy games (11 starts), Wiggins has been averaging 11.7 points while slashing .491/.390/.826 shooting splits, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.8 steals in 22.7 minutes per bout.

Their effort on both sides of the rock would be missed, should Caruso also sit.

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For more news and notes on the Indiana Pacers, visit Indiana Pacers on SI.