The Oklahoma City Thunder have ruled guard Ajay Mitchell out for Sunday’s Western Conference finals’ Game 4 due to a right calf strain.
Mitchell, a second-year player who has started in place of All-Star Jalen Williams seven times through the first three rounds of the postseason, suffered the injury late in Game 2 in Oklahoma City. He started Game 3 but was ineffective. He then re-aggravated the injury at the 8:19 mark of the third quarter.
Mitchell was called for a Flagrant 1 foul against San Antonio’s Stephon Castle, left the floor and did not return in the Thunder’s 123-108 win.
Williams, who scored 26 points in Game 1 but only four in seven minutes during Game 2, missed Game 3 with a left hamstring injury. He is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game in San Antonio.
After losing Game 1, the defending champions have taken a 2-1 series lead.
Mitchell more than doubled his scoring average from his rookie campaign during the regular season, averaging 13.6 points per game. He also finished 23rd in the league in free-throw shooting (87%) and placed fifth in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
Mitchell has been even better in the playoffs, averaging 15.1 points and 4.3 assists per contest through 11 games.
Third-year guard Cason Wallace — who averaged 8.6 points per game during the regular season and 8.1 through 11 playoff games — is expected to start Game 4.
