The Oklahoma City Thunder won a big game on Tuesday over the LA Clippers. That win pushed the Thunder to .500 on the season and into seventh place in the Western Conference. That success has the team rethinking their plans for their star player's schedule for the remainder of the season.

Oklahoma City previously said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was unlikely to play in both ends of back-to-back sets for the remainder of the season. Now, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said it's something the team will consider moving forward.

“Because of how he’s responded, the back-to-backs are more on the table now than they’ve been,” Daigneault said when asked about Gilgeous-Alexander’s abdominal strain.

Oklahoma City has two remaining back-to-back sets. That includes this Thursday and Friday with pivotal postseason positioning matchups against the Clippers again and then the Los Angeles Lakers. The Thunder also play the struggling Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons in a back-to-back next week.

While Daigneault wouldn't commit to Gilgeous-Alexander playing both ends of the back-to-back later this week, it appears it's on the table.

“We didn’t know when we put this plan in place how he was gonna respond, and based on how we’ve managed it and how he’s managed it, he’s responded well, especially right after games, which is most important for back-to-backs,” Daigneault said. “We’re open-minded to it, but we haven’t played one yet.” 

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed Jared Butler to a two-way contract. Butler was waived by the Utah Jazz before the start of this season.

In 41 games with the Grand Rapids Gold of the G League this season, Butler has averaged 18.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. He's shot 40% from behind the arc on 7.2 three-point attempts per game.

Butler spent last season with the Jazz after being selected in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft. He appeared in 42 games as a rookie last season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have agreed to sign Jared Butler to a Two-Way deal.

Butler has appeared in 23 G League games this season with the Grand Rapids Gold, averaging 17.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 30.2 minutes.

Butler played in 42 games last season with the Utah Jazz.

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced today that guard/forward Kenrich Williams suffered a scapholunate ligament rupture in his left wrist during Tuesday’s game against the Sacramento Kings. The injury will require surgery and he is expected to miss the remainder of the 2022-23 season.  
 
Williams has appeared in 53 games (10 starts) this season and averaged 8.0 points on 51.7% shooting from the field, 4.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 22.8 minutes per game. His 26 charges drawn lead the NBA.  
 
Williams is expected to make a full recovery, and further updates will be provided as appropriate.