Inside The Wizards

Wizards vs. Thunder Preview: Embracing Underdog Mentality

The Washington Wizards are visiting the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Jeremy Brener

Feb 23, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Adam Flagler (14) moves around Washington Wizards guard Johnny Davis (1) during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Feb 23, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Adam Flagler (14) moves around Washington Wizards guard Johnny Davis (1) during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
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The Washington Wizards are fresh off of a tough game against the NBA Cup champion Milwaukee Bucks. However, the schedule doesn't get easier as they now have to play the runner-up Oklahoma City Thunder on the road.

The Thunder are the best team in the Western Conference with a 22-5 record. They have won 11 of their last 12 regular season contests, and their only loss came in a three-point defeat on the road against the upbeat Houston Rockets.

The Thunder have the league's best defensive rating, which should prove to be quite the test for the Wizards' league-worst offensive rating.

The Wizards are coming into the game as a massive underdog, but that's a familiar feeling for them. They know what it's like to embrace adversity, and they have to bring everything they have against a Thunder team that is built to beat them by a lot.

All the Wizards can do is come up with a game plan and do their best to execute while fighting tooth and nail to try and pull off the biggest upset of the season.

Here's a look at everything you need to know ahead of tonight's game:

Wizards vs. Thunder Information

  • Date, Location: Monday, December 23 - Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Time: 8:00 p.m. ET

Wizards vs. Thunder Injury Report

Washington Wizards

  • SF Saddiq Bey (OUT - knee)
  • PF Kyle Kuzma (OUT - ribs)

Oklahoma City Thunder

  • SG Alex Ducas (OUT - back)
  • C Chet Holmgren (OUT - hip)
  • PG Nikola Topic (OUT - knee)

Wizards vs. Thunder Projected Starting Lineups

Washington Wizards

  • PG Bub Carrington
  • SG Jordan Poole
  • SF Bilal Coulibaly
  • PF Alex Sarr
  • C Jonas Valanciunas

Oklahoma City Thunder

  • PG Cason Wallace
  • SG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
  • SF Lu Dort
  • PF Jalen Williams
  • C Isaiah Hartenstein

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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