For the first time since January, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell's name was not on the injury report, clearing him to return to face the Denver Nuggets on Monday at Paycom Center. Mitchell suffered a stomach strain and a sprained left ankle. Thunder All-Star Chet Holmgren is listed as questionable after missing Friday's 104-97 win against the Golden State Warriors due to illness.
Mitchell, who has emerged as one of Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault's most reliable guards this season, has rejoined the backcourt, which has filled in for Jared McCann during his absence. Ajay Mitchell is making his return for the Thunder ahead of the highly anticipated rematch of last year's Western Conference Semifinals best-of-7 series against the Nuggets.
Alex Caruso (left hip) is listed as questionable for the Thunder, while Isaiah Hartenstein (left calf), Jalen Williams during a lengthy rehabilitation for a right hamstring injury, and Brandon Carlson (back) remain out for the defending champions.
Monday's matchup between the Thunder and Nuggets follows last week's overtime thriller, which resulted in a 127-121 victory for Oklahoma City. Lou Dort drew a flagrant-2 foul on Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic, ending his night after provoking an angry Jokic, who earned a technical foul for connecting with the Thunder's Jaylin Williams.
Lu Dort apologizes for offensive comment on Nikola Jokic in Thunder's win
After public backlash, Thunder guard Lou Dort apologized for his flagrant 2 foul on Nuggets All-Star center Nikola Jokic. According to Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic, Dort says he got caught up in the moment and fouled Jokic in a way he regrets.
“It was a physical game the whole game,” Dortch said. "Obviously, there was unnecessary contact that I shouldn't have made. Getting kicked out of the game hurt me the worst. But yes, it was a high-level game. I'm a competitor, so I compete."
Fans should expect the same level of intensity in this Western Conference rival between the Thunder and Nuggets, who will meet for the second-to-last time in the regular season on Monday.
