The final injury report is in for Charlotte vs. Oklahoma City, and it sets a clear tone for tonight’s matchup. The Thunder will be without veteran guard Alex Caruso due to low back soreness, while the Hornets list Brandon Miller as probable with a left knee contusion and expect him to play. Tip-off is 8:00 PM ET (7:00 PM local) as OKC hosts Charlotte with both sides juggling key absences and late-day upgrades.

The timing matters. The NBA’s 3:15 PM ET update locked in several changes from the 1:00 PM report. For Charlotte, multiple players shifted from questionable to probable, offering coach-friendly clarity just hours before the ball goes up. For OKC, another backcourt absence adds to a crowded sideline and tests depth on the second night of a back-to-back — a spot that has accounted for half of the team’s losses this season.

Thunder injury report: Caruso out, frontcourt thin

The Thunder enter tonight shorthanded again. The latest report lists:

• Brooks Barnhizer: Out (G League – Two-Way)
• Alex Caruso: Out (Low back soreness)
• Ousmane Dieng: Out (Right calf strain)
• Isaiah Hartenstein: Out (Right soleus strain)
• Thomas Sorber: Out (Right ACL)
• Nikola Topic: Out (N/A)
• Jaylin Williams: Out (Right heel bursitis)

As one report put it, “The Thunder continue to deal with a myriad of injuries, the most recent being veteran guard Alex Caruso dealing with lower back soreness, which will keep him out of tonight’s game.” That compounds depth challenges on the perimeter and up front, where Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams remain out.

On a back-to-back, these losses cut into rim protection, spacing, and secondary playmaking. It places more weight on the main trio—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren—to carry the load, manage late-game possessions, and control the glass.

“No Caruso changes OKC’s guard rotation a ton on a back-to-back. Who soaks up those tough minutes?”

Hornets injury updates: Miller expected, rookies trending up

Charlotte’s final report is more positive. The Hornets list several players as probable after earlier uncertainty:

• Moussa Diabate: Probable (Right wrist sprain)
• Kon Knueppel: Probable (Right hip contusion) — the No. 4 pick has had a blistering start
• Brandon Miller: Probable (Left knee contusion) and expected to play
• Tidjane Salaun: Probable (Left ankle sprain)

Out for Charlotte:

• Ryan Kalkbrenner: Out (Left elbow sprain)
• Mason Plumlee: Out (Right groin surgery)
• KJ Simpson: Out (G League – Two-Way)
• Grant Williams: Out (Right knee surgery)

One update summed it up clearly: “Charlotte has listed Miller as probable due to a left knee contusion, though he is expected to play against the Thunder.” That’s a major positive for a Hornets team that’s started to find rhythm since these teams last met in mid-November. Charlotte comes in at 12-23, but the arrows point toward better health and more consistency.

“If Miller goes and Knueppel plays, Charlotte’s wings could swing this game from three.”

What the numbers say about tonight’s stars

Even with injuries, there is star power on both sides. Recent lines from key players highlight where the game could tilt:

• Chet Holmgren: 16.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steal, 3.5 blocks, 1.5 threes
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 27.5 points, 0.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 2.0 threes
• Jalen Williams: 17.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.5 threes
• Brandon Miller: 20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.5 blocks, 4.0 threes
• Kon Knueppel: 22.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.5 threes
• Miles Bridges: 25.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steal, 4.0 threes

Three-point volume jumps off the page. Miller, Knueppel, and Bridges can all stretch the floor. For OKC, Shai’s shot-making and Holmgren’s rim protection are the guide rails. With Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams out, Holmgren’s 3.5 blocks in recent form loom even larger as OKC’s last line of defense.

For Charlotte, Bridges’ strength and Miller’s size on the wing can press a shorthanded OKC rotation on drives and kick-outs. If Knueppel is in rhythm early, the Hornets can lean into spacing to open lanes and force defensive rotations. That’s where second-chance rebounds and closeouts determine runs.

“OKC needs Chet to own the paint and SGA to control pace. Simple as that.”

Schedule spot matters: back-to-back pressure

This is the second night of a back-to-back for Oklahoma City, and that has been a trouble spot. Half of the Thunder’s losses this season have come in this exact scenario. The formula to avoid another? Keep turnovers down, get to the line, and win the glass even with a thin frontcourt.

Charlotte, meanwhile, will try to ride fresh legs and early pace. If the Hornets hit threes early, they can force OKC to chase. That’s where Shai’s control and Holmgren’s board work are vital for the home team.

Who’s in, who’s out: the final snapshot

From the NBA’s 3:15 PM ET injury report:

Thunder (Out): Alex Caruso (low back soreness), Ousmane Dieng (right calf), Isaiah Hartenstein (right soleus), Thomas Sorber (right ACL), Nikola Topic (N/A), Jaylin Williams (right heel bursitis), Brooks Barnhizer (G League – Two-Way).

Hornets (Probable): Brandon Miller (left knee contusion), Kon Knueppel (right hip contusion), Tidjane Salaun (left ankle sprain), Moussa Diabate (right wrist sprain).

Hornets (Out): Ryan Kalkbrenner (left elbow sprain), Mason Plumlee (right groin surgery), KJ Simpson (G League – Two-Way), Grant Williams (right knee surgery).

Earlier in the day, several Hornets were listed as questionable; they are now probable. That’s a meaningful swing as Charlotte tries to keep building since mid-November. The Hornets enter at 12-23 but have the scoring to trouble a short-handed OKC group.

Tip-off details and final word

It all starts at 8:00 PM ET (7:00 PM local) in Oklahoma City. The Thunder want a bounce-back win. The Hornets want to prove their recent rhythm is real. Health updates tip the scale slightly toward Charlotte’s wings being at full go, but OKC still holds the star power edge with Shai and Chet at home.

Keep an eye on three things: OKC’s fatigue on the second night, Charlotte’s three-point volume, and Holmgren’s rim protection without his usual frontcourt help. If the Thunder win those battles, they’ll like their chances. If the Hornets’ shooters get loose, this one can swing fast.

Either way, the final injury report has set the stage. Now it’s about who executes and who has legs late.