NBA Notes: Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cavs, Peyton Watson, Hawks

October 28, 2026

Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander already has two straight MVP awards. The Thunder’s injury report is giving him plenty of opportunities to demonstrate why.

Oklahoma City improved to 4-0 with Monday’s win over the Suns, despite losing Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace to injuries that will sideline them for months. Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso are also out for Wednesday’s game at Dallas, with Ajay Mitchell questionable.

As Ivan White of Thunder On SI writes, keeping Oklahoma City near the top of the West through those absences would strengthen Gilgeous-Alexander’s case for another MVP.

The Thunder would probably settle for getting through a week without another addition to the injury report.

Gilgeous-Alexander has experience carrying the offense without Williams, who missed much of last season. But losing Wallace, too, takes away another important defender and makes the remaining guards’ jobs harder at both ends.

The Thunder can still win. They’ve already shown that. The challenge is keeping that going without asking their best player to solve every problem himself.

Cavaliers

Peyton Watson’s outside shot hasn’t arrived yet. The rest of his game made a fairly convincing appearance against the Timberwolves.

Watson recorded three steals and four blocks in Monday’s overtime win, adding four deflections and a team-high 14 contested shots.

That’s the activity Cleveland wanted when it acquired him, writes according to Mack Perry of Cavaliers On SI. Length on the perimeter, help around the basket and somebody who can turn an opponent’s comfortable possession into a difficult one.

Anthony Edwards still scored 47 points. Sometimes a great scorer does that, even when defenders make him work. Watson kept making plays anyway, then sank two important free throws in the closing seconds of overtime.

Offensively, four of his five baskets came from putting the ball on the floor and attacking inside, Perry noted. That gives the Cavs another option beyond waiting for him to make threes.

Watson is just 2-of-14 from deep through three games, so there’s work to do. But Monday showed how much he can contribute while that part catches up.

The Cavs didn’t acquire him solely to stand in a corner. Against Minnesota, he was busy just about everywhere else.

Hawks

Aaron Wiggins has quickly become a dependable source of offense for the Hawks’ second unit. Now his availability is uncertain for Wednesday’s game against the Heat.

Wiggins is questionable with a left knee contusion, per Jackson Caudell of Hawks On SI. He has averaged 15.8 points while shooting 53.5% from the field and 48% on threes.

Those are difficult numbers to replace, especially for a team coming off consecutive losses to the Rockets.

If Wiggins sits, coach Quin Snyder could turn to Corey Kispert for additional shooting or lean more heavily on reserves Lu Dort, Kingston Flemings and Jock Landale.

Landale is available despite a nasal fracture. Mohamed Gueye remains out with a left foot fracture, while Henri Veesaar is sidelined by a torn right ACL.

Atlanta has an opportunity to hand Miami a fifth straight loss to open the season. Having its most productive reserve available would certainly improve the chances.