Ajay Mitchell (ankle) upgraded to available Weds.

Mitchell moved into the starting lineup Monday with the Thunder dealing with a number of injuries and dropped a career-high 30 points in the win over the Suns. He scored 29 points Wednesday against the Mavericks, though it still wasn’t enough to prevent a blowout loss. Nevertheless, Mitchell has become a must-roster player and potentially a league-winner as he continues to produce at a high level when given increased opportunities.

Less than 24 hours after dropping a career-high 30 points on the Suns, Mitchell is on the Thunder injury report with a sprained right ankle. Given the absences Oklahoma City is already dealing with, Mitchell’s absence would significantly affect the team’s rotation. Bennett Stirtz, who played 25 minutes on Monday, could be asked to take on a larger role, possibly as a starter.

With Cason Wallace (shoulder) and Jalen Williams (ankle/leg) out for the foreseeable future, the Thunder will need greater contributions from players like Mitchell to stay afloat in the West. The third-year guard started on Monday and delivered the best game of his NBA career to date. Mitchell finished with his first 30-point game and was a steal shy of a complete stat line. If Mitchell is still on your league’s waiver wire, add him immediately.

The Thunder have three new starters for Monday’s game, and two (McCain and Mitchell) could hold onto those roles for the foreseeable future. Cason Wallace (shoulder) and Jalen Williams (ankle/fibula) could miss the rest of the season due to injuries that require surgery. “Kenny Hustle” starts for Chet Holmgren, who is dealing with right patellar tendinitis.

Wallace had already been ruled out for Monday’s game following an early exit on Sunday, but it now appears the injury is going to keep him sidelined a while longer. The hits just keep coming for OKC, with Jalen Williams (leg) set to have surgery as well. Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain will both take on significant roles until Wallace and/or Williams return.

Williams’s injury was gruesome, and this diagnosis confirms it. General manager Sam Presti said a timeline will be provided following the surgery, but at this time, it’s unclear exactly how long he’ll be out. However, given the severity, it’s safe to say it will be a lengthy absence for him. Jared McCain and Ajay Mitchell should both take on larger roles with Cason Wallace (shoulder) set to undergo surgery as well.

Wallace left Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury and didn’t return. He’ll subsequently miss Monday’s game against the Bucks. Ajay Mitchell is certainly a candidate for more minutes and potentially a starting spot with Wallace sidelined.

The Thunder lost Cason Wallace (shoulder) in the first quarter on Sunday. While Mitchell wasn’t the choice to start the third quarter, his role will expand if Wallace misses time. Jared McCain (three points, one rebound, one steal, and one three-pointer) replaced Wallace, and he can provide points and three-pointers in that role. However, Mitchell is the better option for fantasy managers left choosing between the two on the waiver wire.

While he may not be in the Thunder’s starting lineup, Mitchell can still provide solid fantasy value. He played 24 minutes against the Nuggets, doubling his point total from Tuesday’s win over the Spurs. More important for fantasy managers were the “stocks": Mitchell tallied six steals and blocks after recording none in San Antonio. Five-steal nights are unlikely to be the norm, but Mitchell can be close to a top-100 fantasy player for a second consecutive season.

On a night when three of Oklahoma City’s five projected starters were available, Mitchell came off the bench. Cason Wallace, the replacement in the starting lineup on most nights last season, started against the Bucks and appears likely to keep that role. However, this doesn’t mean fantasy managers considering Mitchell should panic. He showed last season that he can provide consistent category league value in a reserve role, and that shouldn’t change in 2026-27, especially with his playing time expected to increase.