NBA Player News

Sheppard won't start Thursday's game against the 76ers, Will Guillory of The Athletic reports.

Sheppard has started 10 of the last 11 games but will slide to the second unit Thursday in favor of Josh Okogie. Sheppard has averaged 13.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.0 steals in 29.0 minutes per game over his last five appearances off the bench.

Bona will start Thursday's game against Houston.

Joel Embiid (illness) is out, so Bona will re-enter the starting lineup versus the Rockets. In 15 starts this season, the 23-year-old has averaged 6.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.0 steals across 22.3 minutes.

Williams is out for Friday's game against the Nuggets due to right Achilles tendinitis, Clemente Almanza of USA Today reports.

This appears to be an attempt to get Williams and several other key contributors some rest ahead of a postseason push. There should be plenty of minutes available for Aaron Wiggins, Brooks Barnhizer, Kenrich Williams and Branden Carlson in the frontcourt Friday night as a result.

Hartenstein (calf) is listed as out for Friday's game against Denver.

Hartenstein will take the night off to rest his calf. With Chet Holmgren (back) and Jaylin Williams (Achilles) also sidelined, Kenrich Williams and Branden Carlson are in line for more work.

Joe has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Nuggets due to left knee soreness.

The Thunder have already secured the league's best record and are listing 10 players as out for their penultimate regular-season game. Joe's next opportunity to suit up will come in Sunday's matchup against the Suns.

Caruso is out for Friday's game against the Nuggets for rest purposes, Clemente Almanza of USA Today reports.

Caruso is one of several key rotation players to get the right off Friday. He'll have one last opportunity to appear in the regular season Sunday against Phoenix.

Mitchell (ankle) has been ruled out for Friday's game against Denver.

The Thunder have already secured the league's best record and are listing 10 players as out ahead of Friday's contest. Mitchell's next chance to suit up will come in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Suns.

Wallace is listed as out for Friday's game against Denver due to left great toe soreness, Clemente Almanza of USA Today reports.

This will mark Wallace's first absence since Jan. 27, as the Thunder are resting a large number of their usual rotation players with the No. 1 seed already locked up. He'll have one more chance to appear in the regular season, Sunday against Phoenix, before the playoffs begin.

Harkless (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Friday's game against Memphis.

Harkless has missed Utah's last five games with a left hamstring strain, though the questionable tag means there's a chance he will return this season. If he remains sidelined, Bez Mbeng and Kennedy Chandler will both likely continue seeing significant minutes.

Gilgeous-Alexander (oblique) won't play in Friday's game against the Nuggets, Clemente Almanza of USA Today reports.

Oklahoma City has a lock on the top spot in the Western Conference, so Gilgeous-Alexander will take the night off against Denver. With Ajay Mitchell (ankle), Alex Caruso (rest), Isaiah Joe (knee) and Cason Wallace (toe) also unavailable, Jared McCain and Nikola Topic should see more minutes, with at least one of them in line to enter the starting lineup.