Six Rotation Pieces Join Rest List Before Pelicans Preseason…

By the Thunder Nightly Desk · Tuesday, October 6

Six Thunder regulars — Wallace, Caruso, Holmgren, Hartenstein, Jalen Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander — landed on the injury list on October 5, most under rest or not-injury-related tags, each with an estimated return of October 7. Oklahoma City hosts the Pelicans tonight in a preseason game, with Thomas Sorber, already sidelined for a right knee issue, bringing the total to seven ahead of tipoff.

Thunder Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

A Sudden Rest Wave

Six Thunder regulars moved onto the injury list on October 5: Wallace, Caruso, Holmgren, Hartenstein, Jalen Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander. Four carry a rest or not-injury-related tag rather than a specific ailment, and all six share the same estimated return of October 7. Thomas Sorber, already on the list for a right knee issue, brings the total to seven heading into tonight's game.

Tonight Against New Orleans

Oklahoma City hosts the Pelicans in a preseason game tonight, the first of two preseason matchups in as many nights. New Orleans went 26-56 last season under Jamahl Mosley, with a defensive rating of 117.6 and a -4.4 net rating. Guard Bryce McGowens is day-to-day for New Orleans with a right toe issue.

What's Still Open

With seven regulars sharing the same October 7 target, it is unclear how many play meaningful minutes tonight or in tomorrow's preseason game against the Bucks. The next look at this group comes October 12 at Atlanta, with the regular-season opener set for October 20 at San Antonio.

Is Gilgeous-Alexander playing tonight against the Pelicans?

He is on the injury list with a rest designation and an estimated return of October 7, so Oklahoma City may hold him out of tonight's preseason opener.

Why are so many Thunder players out for the Pelicans game?

Six players, including Jalen Williams, Holmgren, Hartenstein, Wallace and Caruso, were added to the injury list on October 5, most under rest or not-injury-related tags, with Sorber already sidelined for a right knee issue.

By the Thunder Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.