Thunder face significant challenges against Warriors
The Oklahoma City Thunder are gearing up for a tough matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night, but they’ll be doing so without key contributors. All-Star guard Jalen Williams, who was also a third-team All-NBA selection last year, has been sidelined with a wrist injury. Despite Williams’ absence, the Thunder have remarkably thrived, boasting a 10-1 record this season without him.
Dort’s defensive void
In addition to losing Williams, the Thunder will also miss first-team All-Defensive wing Luguentz Dort for the fourth consecutive game due to a shoulder injury. Notably, Dort played a crucial role as the primary defender against Stephen Curry last season. In their two matchups, Dort spent 11:48 guarding Curry, who still managed to score 22 points with a shooting percentage of 53.3, complemented by five assists and zero turnovers.
While Williams had a smaller sample size against Curry, he fared better during his limited time on the court, holding the sharpshooter to just two points on 1-of-4 shooting in 2:29 of defensive duty. Last season, Curry lit up the Thunder, averaging 28.5 points while shooting 50% from the field, 52.2% from beyond the arc, and 87.5% from the free-throw line. The Warriors secured victories in both contests against Oklahoma City last year, contributing to a 2-1 series finish for Golden State, making them one of only two teams with a winning record against the eventual NBA champions.
Shifting defensive matchups
With both Williams and Dort out, the Thunder’s defensive strategy will be put to the test. Expect Alex Caruso to take on a significant role in defending Curry. Although they didn’t match up extensively last season, Caruso, during his time with the Bulls two years ago, managed to limit Curry to just seven points on 2-of-13 shooting over 9:24 of play.
Second-year guard Cason Wallace is set to start and will likely find himself tasked with defending Curry as well. Wallace has shown promise in his defensive capabilities, ranking in the 97th percentile in Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus (EPM) according to Dunks and Threes.
Adding to their depth issues, guard Aaron Wiggins will also be unavailable, leaving the Thunder particularly thin in the backcourt. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may have to step up and take a few defensive possessions against Curry. However, the Thunder will be cautious about overextending SGA in this role, as they need him fresh for offensive responsibilities. Last season, Curry managed just five points against SGA, hitting 1-of-4 attempts when matched up against him.
With their depth tested and significant players missing, the Thunder face a formidable challenge as they prepare for an explosive showdown with the Warriors.
