Winning games in the NBA is hard. Doing it while your prized free-agent signing is glued to the bench in a walking boot is even harder. Yet, here we are in mid-January 2026, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are still sitting pretty at the top of the Western Conference. If you’re checking the Oklahoma City Thunder injury report before tonight's matchup against the Miami Heat, you're probably looking for one name in particular: Isaiah Hartenstein.
Honestly, it feels like we’ve been waiting forever to see the full "Twin Towers" vision with Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren sharing the floor consistently.
The big man is officially OUT for tonight’s game at the Kaseya Center. He’s dealing with a stubborn right soleus strain—basically a fancy term for a deep calf injury—that has kept him sidelined since late December. This will be his 11th straight game watching from the sidelines. It's frustrating for fans, sure, but for a team with title aspirations, Mark Daigneault isn't about to rush his $87 million rim protector back for a random Saturday night in Miami.
The Current Oklahoma City Thunder Injury Report
Beyond the Hartenstein drama, the list is actually relatively clean for a team this deep into the season.
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- Isaiah Hartenstein (Center): Out. That right soleus strain is no joke. The Thunder haven't given a firm return date, which is classic OKC. They play their cards close to the vest.
- Nikola Topic (Guard): Out. The rookie is still in the long-term recovery phase of his surgical rehab. We likely won't see him contributing meaningful minutes until much later, if at all this season.
- Thomas Sorber (Center): Out for Season. The big man is recovering from a right ACL surgery.
- Luguentz Dort (Forward): Available. There was a bit of a scare with some left foot soreness earlier in the week, but the defensive heart of the team is good to go.
What’s up with Jalen Williams and Shai?
You might have noticed J-Dub (Jalen Williams) looking a little "off" with his shooting numbers recently. He’s been playing through some lingering discomfort in his right wrist—his shooting hand. He’s even been seen using a heated glove on the bench to keep those muscles from locking up. It’s a grind. But he’s not on the official report, which means he’s gutting it out.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also had a brief scare with an ankle sprain that cost him a game against Memphis about a week ago. But the MVP candidate is back to his usual self, dropping 34 points on the Spurs just a few days ago. He’s fine. He’s more than fine.
Why the Hartenstein Absence Isn't Sinking the Ship
Most teams would crumble if their starting center and primary backup center (Jaylin Williams was also banged up recently) went down. The Thunder? They just move Chet Holmgren to the 5 and keep rolling.
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Chet has been a monster lately. Over the last few games, he’s been averaging nearly three blocks a night. He’s thriving in the space created by Hartenstein's absence, even if the long-term plan is to have them playing together to bully smaller lineups.
The "small-ball" Thunder lineups featuring Kenrich Williams or even Aaron Wiggins at the 4 have been surprisingly effective. It’s that positionless basketball that Sam Presti has been preaching for years. It works because guys like Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso can guard players two sizes bigger than them.
The Heat Check
Miami is dealing with their own mess tonight. Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Davion Mitchell are both out. Tyler Herro is a game-time decision with toe and rib issues. If Herro sits, the Thunder’s perimeter defense is going to have a field day.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re looking at the lines for tonight or just trying to figure out how the rotation will look, keep these specific details in mind:
- Watch the Rebound Margin: OKC is currently 18th in the league in rebounding. Without Hartenstein, they lose that "bruiser" element. If Bam Adebayo goes off on the glass, it's because the Thunder are playing small.
- The "J-Dub" Factor: Keep an eye on Jalen Williams' three-point attempts. If he's hesitating or short-arming them, that wrist is still bothering him more than the team is letting on. He's only shooting about 17% from deep in January.
- Rotation Shifts: Expect more minutes for Jaylin Williams (the other J-Will) and Branden Carlson. They’ve had to step up significantly with the frontcourt thinned out.
The reality is that the Oklahoma City Thunder injury report is a testament to the team's depth. They are 35-7 and essentially missing their biggest offseason acquisition. When Hartenstein finally returns—likely toward the end of January or early February—this team might actually get better, which is a terrifying thought for the rest of the NBA.
Stay tuned to the official NBA morning shootaround updates, as the "Questionable" tags can flip to "Available" about two hours before tip-off. For now, expect the Shai and Chet show to continue carrying the load in South Beach.