November 6, 2026 at 4:57 AM UTC
Pregame AnalysisDepleted Thunder Lean on Gilgeous-Alexander Against Wizards
Oklahoma City is short-handed, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a deep defensive base should be enough at home.
This page is the pregame analysis. The box score is the main page for the game, and the matchup history collects every meeting between these teams.
Oklahoma City arrives at this game with a much different roster than the one that opened 4-0. Jalen Williams (fractured left fibula, dislocated ankle) and Cason Wallace (torn left shoulder labrum) were both hurt in a single game and could miss the entire season. Both started for the 2025 championship team, so the Thunder are now rebuilding their rotation on the fly.
The frontcourt is the biggest worry. Chet Holmgren is out 8 to 10 weeks, and Jaylin Williams has been dealing with back spasms. That thins the rim protection and rebounding Oklahoma City usually relies on, and Washington's best path is to attack the glass and score inside. Mark Daigneault has kept reshuffling his starters, including a supersized Hartenstein-Mara look, so the Thunder will have to rebound by committee.
Still, there is a lot to like on the home side. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 with eight assists in the 124-116 win over Cleveland, even with three starters out. The Thunder led by as many as 25 before letting it shrink late, which shows both his ability to carry the team and how little room for error there is. Alex Caruso is back from his ankle sprain and brings defensive stability. The new additions, Micah Peavy on a two-way deal and Dalen Terry in the last standard spot, give Daigneault more bodies for point-of-attack defense.
Washington will find openings in the paint and will have chances if Oklahoma City's focus slips. But the Thunder have the best player on the floor, a defensive anchor back on the perimeter, and home court. Expect a closer game than the roster would normally suggest, with Gilgeous-Alexander deciding the fourth quarter. Prediction: Thunder 117, Wizards 108.