Thunder guard Nikola Topic moved from day-to-day to out on Wednesday's injury report with a back injury. He will miss Thursday's home game against the Nuggets.
What happened
Nikola Topic is out with a back injury. The Thunder guard's status changed from day-to-day to out on the injury report at 6:18 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The report lists the injury as back, torso. Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman reported that Topic would not play in Tuesday's season opener against the Spurs. His status has gone back and forth this week. He was listed day-to-day on Friday, Oct. 16, and moved to out on Monday, Oct. 19. He went back to day-to-day earlier Wednesday before the latest change to out.
What it means for the Thunder
Oklahoma City hosts the Nuggets on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Thunder are 1-0 and in first place. They won the opener without Topic. The 21-year-old played 10 games last season and averaged 5.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 16.0 minutes. Without him in the opener, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played 36.1 minutes and scored 32 points. Jared McCain scored 20 points in 22.1 minutes. Alex Caruso played 24.7 minutes, Ajay Mitchell 22.7 and Cason Wallace 19.2. Two other players are also out: Otega Oweh with a right Achilles injury and Thomas Sorber with a right knee injury.
What to watch
The next injury report will show whether anything changes before Thursday's game against Denver. The report gives an expected return date of Monday, Oct. 26. That is a target date, not a confirmed return. Topic's status has changed three times in six days, so each new report matters. Against the Nuggets, watch how the guard minutes behind Gilgeous-Alexander are split among McCain, Caruso, Mitchell and Wallace.
Is Nikola Topic playing vs Nuggets on Thursday, Oct. 22?
No. He is listed as out with a back injury for Thursday's 9:30 p.m. ET game against the Nuggets.
When will Nikola Topic be back?
The injury report lists an expected return date of Monday, Oct. 26. No return has been confirmed.