The Oklahoma City Thunder are down yet another key cog, and their championship odds are taking the brunt as a result.
- Center Chet Holmgren is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks with a small patellar tendon tear.
- The news comes as OKC already deals with the losses of Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace to potentially season-ending injuries.
- The Thunder’s championship odds have slumped in response, with DraftKings moving them from +295 to +450 in one week.
Chet Holmgren is expected to be sidelined between eight to 10 weeks after undergoing treatment for a small tear in his patellar tendon.
Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren underwent treatment Friday to address a small patellar tendon tear and is expected to return to play in 8-to-10 weeks.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 31, 2026
The injury marks yet another massive blow to the Thunder, already without superstar wing Jalen Williams and key rotation guard Cason Wallace after the pair each suffered potentially season-ending injuries against the Los Angeles Clippers last Sunday.
“For me personally, I just feel bad for everybody,” forward Jaylin Williams said Saturday after the shorthanded Thunder dropped to 4-2 after a loss to the Houston Rockets.
Storm clouds gather over OKC
As the bad news piles up for Oklahoma City, their title odds have lengthened from their preseason perch as title favorites, allowing the San Antonio Spurs to move into the league’s top spot.
| Team | FanDuel | DraftKings | bet365 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Spurs | +280 | +290 | +280 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +420 | +450 | +425 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1,000 | +850 | +900 |
| New York Knicks | +1,000 | +1,000 | +1,000 |
| Boston Celtics | +1,100 | +1,000 | +1,000 |
| Houston Rockets | +1,600 | +1,400 | +1,500 |
| Toronto Raptors | +1,700 | +1,600 | +1,600 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +1,800 | +1,800 | +1,800 |
| Detroit Pistons | +2,200 | +2,200 | +2,200 |
| Denver Nuggets | +2,200 | +2,500 | +2,500 |
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
The Thunder’s +450 price at DraftKings marks an ominous move from just one week ago, when they were listed at +295 and still tied with the San Antonio Spurs for the best NBA Finals odds.
Two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander seemed aware, at least in part, of the uphill climb ahead for his club, appearing at a loss for words after Saturday’s game.
“We have some figuring out to do, for sure. A lot of it,” he said when asked what the Thunder could control following the string of bad injury luck. “But I don't have an answer for you right now."
Head coach Mark Daigneault, meanwhile, said that spirits remain high, and that his club would be resilient despite a growing list of sidelined stars.
“We understand the challenge in front of us,” he affirmed. “Obviously, our circumstances have changed significantly in a week, so it kinda reframes the challenge. But sympathy doesn't help you compete. Excuses don't help you compete.”
The Thunder currently sit fifth in the Western Conference standings after six games. The Memphis Grizzlies lead the way with a spotless 6-0 record.
Gilgeous-Alexander remains among the NBA MVP favorites (+390), trailing just Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs (+190) and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers (+260) at DraftKings.
