Ajay Mitchell Available For Oklahoma City Thunder Against Dallas Mavericks Despite Right Ankle Sprain
DALLAS — Ajay Mitchell is available for the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said before the game at American Airlines Center.
Mitchell carried a questionable designation into the day with a right ankle sprain. The injury put him on Oklahoma City’s report Tuesday, less than 24 hours after he scored a career-high 30 points in Monday’s 125-114 win over the Phoenix Suns. He has played in all four of the Thunder’s games this season.
Last season, his second in the NBA, Mitchell averaged 13.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 57 regular-season games. In 11 playoff games, he put up 15.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists before Oklahoma City’s run ended in the Western Conference finals. Mitchell was the 38th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft out of UC Santa Barbara.
Oklahoma City Thunder Rule Out Six Against Dallas Mavericks
Oklahoma City listed six players as out for Wednesday. Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace were both hurt in Sunday’s 108-101 win over the LA Clippers. Williams fractured his fibula and dislocated his left ankle, and Wallace tore the labrum in his left shoulder. Thunder general manager Sam Presti confirmed both players need surgery.
Chet Holmgren sat out Monday with patellar tendinitis in his right knee and is out again. Alex Caruso sprained his right ankle late in the second quarter against Phoenix, needed help getting to the locker room, and did not return. Thomas Sorber (right knee surgery) and Nikola Topić (low back surgery) are also out.
Jared McCain, starting in Wallace’s place for the first time, scored 18 points Monday, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 26.
Ajay Mitchell Started In Place Of Jalen Williams Against Phoenix
With Williams out Monday, Mitchell went 10-of-16 from the field, 1-of-3 from three-point range, and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. He scored 18 of his points in the first half, when Oklahoma City built a 67-53 halftime lead, and finished with 2 rebounds and 5 assists. Against the Clippers the night before, he had 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals on 8-of-14 shooting.
The injuries to Williams and Wallace still did not feel real to Mitchell after Monday’s game. He said the Thunder went out against Phoenix to compete for both of them and get a win on their behalf.
“Obviously, with those guys out, I knew I probably have to come out and be even more aggressive,” Mitchell said. “But I gotta stay myself no matter what, no matter who’s in, who’s out, and figure out a way to help the team win.”
Oklahoma City is 4-0 and, according to NBA.com, is the second team in league history to open three consecutive seasons with four straight wins. A win Wednesday would make the Thunder the first team to open three straight seasons 5-0. Oklahoma City swept the three-game season series from Dallas last season.
Dallas is 2-2 after Monday’s 113-109 win at the Miami Heat, which followed a 122-106 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. CT, and the game airs nationally on ESPN. Wednesday’s game opens a stretch of eight road games in 10 for Oklahoma City. The Mavericks host the Houston Rockets on Friday at 7 p.m. CT, and the Thunder play at Houston the next night.
