Ajay Mitchell scored a career-high 30 points Monday, Oct. 26, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 125-114 win over the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center.
Oklahoma City improved to 4-0 despite playing without three starters. Jalen Williams (fractured fibula, dislocated ankle), Cason Wallace (torn left labrum) and Chet Holmgren (right patellar tendinitis) all sat out. Then the Thunder lost another key piece when Alex Caruso left in the second quarter with a sprained right ankle and did not return.
Mitchell, starting in Williams' spot, made 10 of 16 shots and 9 of 10 free throws while adding five assists, according to Daily Thunder's scoreboard. He poured in 18 points before halftime and kept attacking in the second half.
"We were thinking a lot about 'Dub.' Prayers up to him," Mitchell said after the game, according to USA Today. "Was horrible to see that."
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 26 points. Jared McCain, starting in Wallace's place, scored 18. Isaiah Hartenstein posted 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Caruso was chasing Phoenix guard Dillon Brooks on a drive when Brooks' foot made contact with Caruso's ankle. Both players went down with 1:34 left in the second quarter. Caruso had scored nine points on three 3-pointers in nine minutes before his exit. Whether the sprain will cost him additional games is not yet known.
The Thunder led 67-53 at halftime and stretched the margin to 89-72 on a McCain 3-pointer with three minutes left in the third quarter. Phoenix never seriously threatened after that. Jalen Green led the Suns with 20 points, Dillon Brooks added 19 and Miles Bridges had 17. Devin Booker managed just three points on 1-for-7 shooting, according to the Associated Press.
The win came one night after Williams suffered his injury on an awkward landing under the basket late in the fourth quarter of the Thunder's 108-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, Oct. 25. Williams went up for a dunk and was fouled from behind by Clippers guard Kris Dunn. He was carted off on a stretcher, giving two thumbs up to fans chanting "JDub."
General manager Sam Presti confirmed Oct. 26 that Williams will need surgery. Presti said no return timetable would be set until after the procedure. Wallace also needs surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and is out indefinitely.
Head coach Mark Daigneault said the emotional toll on the team was real but praised his players for honoring their injured teammates and getting themselves ready to compete, according to USA Today.
Veteran wing Kenrich Williams, who played no more than 7:20 in any of the Thunder's first three games, was inserted into the starting lineup and logged 24 minutes Oct. 26, according to Hoops Rumors.
Oklahoma City travels to Dallas to face the Mavericks on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 8:30 p.m. CT.
