Thunder and Lakers Combine to List Six Players on Injury Report

Oklahoma City and LA will face off tonight

Mar 12, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) reacts after a play against the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

The Thunder and Lakers will match up tonight, both desperately needing wins in the home stretch of the 2025-26 NBA season.

The Thunder have largely been the best team in the league all season long, still narrowly hanging onto a league-best 60-16 — good for the team's third 60-win season since relocation. Despite that, San Antonio is hot on OKC's heels for the No. 1 seed, sitting just 2.0 games back with a handful to play.

The Thunder's end-of-season schedule is much tougher, and multiple bouts against the Lakers plays into that.

LA, led by Luka Doncic and LeBron James, stands at third in the west behind Oklahoma City and San Antonio. They currently have just a 1.5-game lead over Denver, meaning tonight's game is highly important to retain the third seed.

Tonight's game also brings with it MVP intrigue, as both reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and LA's superstar in Doncic have put together award-winning seasons. While SGA was thought to have wrapped it up weeks ago, players like Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama have made late-season pushes, making tonight's game mildly important for the star guard individually.

As always, the injury report is sure to play a factor in tonight's game, as it has all season for OKC. Here are the injury reports for both the Thunder and Lakers ahead of tonight’s game:

OKC Thunder injuries:

Alex Caruso — Questionable: Illness

Thomas Sorber — Out: Right ACL surgical recovery 

LA Lakers injuries:

Kobe Bufkin — Out: G League

Dalton Knecht — Out: G League

Marcus Smart — Out: Right ankle contusion

Adou Thiero — Out: G League

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The Thunder get a relatively short injury report in the context of an injury-laden season, but could still be without talent as Alex Caruso is listed questionable to play due to illness.

Caruso has been a vital part of the team’s bench impact this season, playing in 53 games while averaging 6.3 points, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He’s among the team’s best defenders, and would especially be helpful against a potent Lakers’ core capable of filling it up nightly. 

Rookie Thomas Sorber has been a mainstay on the injury report all season, having suffered an ACL injury in the offseason.

The Lakers list four players, though three are out on G League assignment. Marcus Smart has been ruled out for tonight’s game with an ankle contusion.

The Thunder and Lakers tip off at 8:30 p.m. CT from Oklahoma City, OK.