OKC Thunder Rests 10 Players for Season Finale

Thunder sits key starters against playoff-bound Suns in regular season's last game.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 11:46pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting an abstracted basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns, with the players' forms broken down into angular, colorful shapes on the court.An abstract, cubist-inspired illustration captures the strategic rest of the Thunder's starters as they prepare for the playoffs, while the Suns gear up for the postseason push.Oklahoma City Today

The Oklahoma City Thunder has ruled out 10 players, including starters Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, for their final regular season game against the Phoenix Suns. The move comes as the Thunder look to rest key players ahead of the playoffs.

Why it matters

The Thunder are already locked into a playoff spot, so resting their top players makes sense to avoid injury and allow the backups to get valuable game experience before the postseason begins. However, it also means the Suns will face a depleted Thunder roster in their final tuneup before the playoffs.

The details

The 10 players ruled out for the Thunder are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, Ajay Mitchell, Isaiah Joe, Jaylin Williams, and Thomas Sorber. This leaves the Thunder with a very inexperienced lineup to face the playoff-bound Suns.

  • The game is scheduled for Sunday, April 13, 2026 at 7:30 PM CT.

The players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Thunder's leading scorer and All-Star point guard.

Jalen Williams

The Thunder's starting small forward and rising young star.

Chet Holmgren

The Thunder's starting center and last year's 2nd overall draft pick.

Phoenix Suns

The Thunder's opponent, a playoff-bound team looking to tune up for the postseason.

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What they’re saying

“We want to make sure our key guys are as healthy as possible heading into the playoffs. This is an opportunity for some of our younger players to get extended minutes and valuable experience.”

— Mark Daigneault, Thunder Head Coach

What’s next

The Thunder will begin their playoff run after this regular season finale, while the Suns will look to build momentum heading into the postseason.

The takeaway

The Thunder are prioritizing rest and recovery over chasing a higher playoff seed, showing confidence in their young roster and focusing on being healthy and fresh for the playoffs.