The Oklahoma City Thunder will meet the Indiana Pacers on Friday night with a thinned-out roster and a clear message: win with what you have. The final injury report for January 23 confirms that Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein are out, adding another hurdle for the West’s best team before tip at 8:00 ET.

It’s a tough blow on paper. Williams’ playmaking and Hartenstein’s size have been core pieces of Oklahoma City’s plan. Still, at 37-8, the Thunder have shown they can bend without breaking. This is another chance to prove it—and another test of their depth, their rebounding, and their patience.

Final Thunder injury report vs. Pacers

Friday’s final update locks in what recent reports had signaled all week. Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain) is out and will be re-evaluated in a couple of weeks after getting hurt during the loss to Miami on Jan. 17. Isaiah Hartenstein (right soleus/calf strain) remains out with no concrete timetable since he went down on Dec. 28.

There’s more: the official NBA injury report also lists Alex Caruso (right adductor strain) and rookie Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain) as out. In recent days, OKC has also been navigating absences for Aaron Wiggins, Jaylin Williams, Thomas Sorber (season-ending ACL), and Nikola Topic, who is still in surgical recovery. While not all of those are confirmed for tonight, it speaks to the injury bug the team has managed through in January.

On the other side, the Pacers report their own heavy news: Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles), Obi Toppin (right foot stress fracture), and Bennedict Mathurin (thumb) are out. Both teams will need to shuffle rotations.

“Is 33-1 without Jalen Williams sustainable or just noise?”

Why Jalen Williams’ hamstring absence matters

Williams has become a reliable connector. In 24 games this season, he’s averaging 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists. He’s also missed 21 games, which makes the Thunder’s unique split even more striking: OKC is 33-1 in regular season games he’s missed due to injury. It’s a quirky stat, but it underlines the group’s balance and the staff’s steady hand.

His hamstring injury forces more ball-handling by committee and fewer easy reads in the half court. As one recent update put it, “Each injury changes the dynamics on court. Williams’ absence, a significant blow, has adjusted the Thunder’s rotations.” That will be true again tonight, with wings and bench guards asked to make the simple pass and keep turnovers low.

Rebounding without Isaiah Hartenstein

Hartenstein’s right soleus strain has lingered since late December, and there’s still no set return date. During that stretch, the Thunder have slipped to 28th in the league in rebounding. That’s the clearest area where his absence shows up: boxing out, ending defensive possessions, and creating second chances.

“The Thunder have been without big man Isaiah Hartenstein since Dec. 28 due to a right soleus strain. He is out once again for Friday’s game and still doesn’t have a concrete timetable for his return,” one report summarized. Without him, the group’s gang-rebounding must be sharp, especially against a Pacers side that likes to push pace off the glass.

“Rebounding is the one number that can flip this game fast.”

Next-man-up: Branden Carlson’s minutes and the bench

The Thunder have leaned into their “next man up” mantra. “There’s always a next man up for this team, always a bench player who can fill a role effectively,” has become the theme of the month. Rookie big Branden Carlson is one of those role-fillers.

Against the Bucks, Carlson delivered 9 points, 6 rebounds, and an assist in a bit over 16 minutes, shooting 4-of-8. On the season, despite a smaller role (7.7 minutes per game across 32 outings), he’s at 3.8 points on 44.3% shooting with a 12.9% rebound percentage. Those are modest, useful touches of production—and a sign that he can be a steady body while Hartenstein heals.

Expect the Thunder to keep the rotation tight, emphasize ball pressure on defense, and simplify shot selection. With Alex Caruso out due to a right adductor strain, that perimeter workload spreads even wider among the available guards and wings.

Pacers injury report and game flow

Indiana is also short-handed. Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles issue removes one of the game’s sharpest passers. Obi Toppin’s right foot stress fracture and Bennedict Mathurin’s thumb injury trim a chunk of the Pacers’ scoring and transition punch.

Given the absences on both sides, the game could hinge on the basics: rebound the ball, limit turnovers, and take clean threes. For OKC, the goal is simple—keep pace control, win the glass by committee, and trust the system that has carried them to 37-8, the best mark in the West.

“If OKC controls the glass, the rest falls in line.”

Depth, trade questions, and the bigger picture for OKC

“Oklahoma City Thunder face uncertainty as Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein sit out, raising crucial questions about depth and trade,” a recent note observed. It’s fair. With Hartenstein’s timetable open-ended and Williams set for another check in a couple of weeks, the front office will keep evaluating whether the current depth is enough for the grind ahead.

At the same time, this team has built its record on habits—not just names. They defend, they move the ball, and they rarely beat themselves. Even amid injuries, the Thunder don’t scramble; they adjust. The staff has shown a clear plan: keep roles simple, trust the bench, and bank on collective effort.

The result is a steady drumbeat of wins—even when key players sit. For tonight, that approach gets tested again. It’s not about adding tricks. It’s about basics done well, for 48 minutes.

What to watch tonight

• Rebounding margin: Without Hartenstein, can OKC win the glass by two or more?
• Turnovers: Williams’ absence means extra creation by committee. Can the Thunder stay under 12?
• Bench lift: Can Carlson and the second unit hold up the interior against a physical Pacers front?
• Pace control: With Haliburton out, can OKC dictate tempo and force half-court possessions?

As one summary put it simply: “Jalen Williams suffered a right hamstring strain during the team’s loss to the Miami Heat on Jan. 17. He is expected to miss ‘a couple of weeks’.” The Thunder will manage the next stretch with patience. The wins don’t need to be pretty. They need to be solid.

Bottom line

On a night defined by absences, the Thunder still have their identity. They are 37-8 for a reason. The final injury report is heavy—Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein are out; Alex Caruso and Ajay Mitchell are out; and several others have been in and out of the lineup this month. But OKC knows the formula: defend, rebound together, and make the next smart pass.

The Pacers have big names out too, which levels the field. Expect a grind. Expect a few new faces to step into larger roles. And expect a focused Thunder team trying to add one more to the win column while two key starters heal up.