Alex Caruso Ruled Out Against Kings With Ankle Injury

Oklahoma City Thunder defensive ace Alex Caruso will miss yet another contest, this time due to an ankle injury. The games missed are piling up for the veteran, but this injury should not sound alarm bells for Oklahoma City.

Dec 31, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9), forward Ousmane Dieng (13) and forward Jaylin Williams (6) watch as their team plays against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

As the Oklahoma City Thunder dropped a game in Golden State to closoe out a two-game West Coast road trip, the Thunder also lost defensive ace Alex Caruso.

Just seconds after stepping on the court, Caruso landed awkwardly on another players foot triggering an ankle injury that ended his night in short order. On Friday, the Thunder released an injury report ahead of Saturday night's contest against the Kings that sees the defensive stalwart listed as out.

This will mark the 18th game that Caruso as missed outright, 19 if you count his 11 second stint against Golden State as a missed contest.

While plenty of people are sounding the alarm bells regarding the Texas A&M products health, it is still premature despite the missed games piling up. He landed on his hip awkwardly and stepped on a players foot that turned his ankle. That doesn't make a player injury prone. Just last year, Jalen Williams was unlucky stepping on the feet on camera operators and missing games. It is just poor luck for an extreme competitor who wants to be on the court.

NBA Injury Report

Oklahoma City Thunder

Alex Caruso (Ankle) OUT
Dillon Jones (GL) OUT
Chet Holmgren (Hip) OUT
Ajay Mitchell (Toe) OUT
Nikola Topic (ACL) OUT

Sacramento Kings

Colby Jones (GL) OUT
Isaiah Crawford (GL) OUT

This season, Caruso is averaging 5.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.3 stocks per game while shooting 38 percent from the floor, 29 percent from beyond the arc and 75 percent at the charity stripe.

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