Nikola Topic has been ruled out of Oklahoma City's season opener at San Antonio on Tuesday with a back issue. He was day-to-day as of Friday.
What happened
The Thunder upgraded the injury designation for Nikola Topic from day-to-day to out on Monday, Oct. 19. The injury report lists the issue as back and torso. Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman reports that Topic, listed with the back issue, won't play in Tuesday's season opener against the Spurs. He had been listed as day-to-day with the same back and torso designation on Friday, Oct. 16. The report gives an expected return date of Oct. 22. No other details on the injury have been announced.
What it means for the Thunder
Oklahoma City opens the 2026-27 season at the Spurs on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 9:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The Thunder are 0-0, so there is no record with or without Topic. The 21-year-old guard played 10 games last season and averaged 16.0 minutes, 5.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists. Without him, the guard minutes fall to the rest of the rotation. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 33.2 minutes and 31.1 points in the box scores without Topic. Cason Wallace averaged 26.6 minutes and Ajay Mitchell 25.8. Wallace is also on the report as day-to-day with an undisclosed issue.
What to watch
The next update should come with the injury report before Oklahoma City's next game after the opener. The report lists an expected return of Oct. 22, but the team has not announced a firm timeline beyond that. Wallace's day-to-day status is the other guard-rotation question to follow, since he is also on the report. Otega Oweh and Thomas Sorber are both out. The opener at San Antonio on Tuesday is the first game Topic will miss.
Is Nikola Topic playing against the Spurs on Tuesday?
No. Topic is out for the season opener at San Antonio on Tuesday, Oct. 20, with a back issue, according to the injury report and The Oklahoman.
When will Nikola Topic be back?
The injury report lists an expected return date of Oct. 22. The team has not announced anything beyond that.