NBA Title Race Opens as Injuries Sidelin Star Players in Oklahoma City and New York

Oklahoma City lost Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, and Chet Holmgren to injuries, contributing to a 24-point loss against Dallas.

The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a 24-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks and a 21-point defeat against the Houston Rockets after losing four of their top six players to injury. Chet Holmgren is sidelined for at least two months with a patellar tendon tear in his right knee, while Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace sustained potentially season-ending injuries in a single game. Alex Caruso also missed time with a sprained right ankle. The Thunder were outscored in all eight quarters across their recent two-game losing streak.

Preseason championship projections for the Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and New York Knicks have shifted significantly according to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index. The combined title probability for these three teams fell from 58% to 38% in the first two weeks of the season. The defending champion Knicks started 2-4, while the Spurs are 4-2 following an overtime victory against the Utah Jazz. In the Eastern Conference, the 76ers, Pistons, and Celtics have opened with a combined 16-3 record.

The MVP race has also been impacted by uncharacteristic starts from perennial leaders. Nikola Jokic currently ranks 24th in player efficiency rating (PER) and recently completed his lowest five-game box plus-minus stretch since 2020. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the two-time defending MVP, ranks 16th in PER. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Cooper Flagg and Victor Wembanyama have emerged as early candidates, though Wembanyama must meet the 65-game minimum to qualify for the award.

Other notable players who have missed multiple games due to injury early this season include Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Paolo Banchero, Jalen Duren, Alperen Sengun, and Kawhi Leonard. The Houston Rockets have capitalized on the shifting landscape, starting the season 5-1 with wins over both San Antonio and Oklahoma City.