NBA Notes: Thunder, Ajay Mitchell, Spurs, De’Aaron Fox, Celtics

Thunder

The Thunder may be heading into a pivotal Game 4 shorthanded again.

The team announced that Ajay Mitchell will miss Sunday’s game against the Spurs because of a strained right calf after exiting Friday’s matchup following a hard collision with Spurs rookie Stephon Castle.

Mitchell, who started in place of the injured Jalen Williams, limped off toward the locker room after the play and did not return. Williams, meanwhile, remains questionable with left hamstring soreness.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault wasn’t exactly eager to offer much clarity afterward.

“I know, but I’m not giving an update on it,” Daigneault said.

If Williams also sits, Cason Wallace likely would move into the starting lineup.

Spurs

The Spurs expect both De’aron Fox and Dylan Harper to play despite both guards dealing with leg injuries.

Fox returned in Game 3 while battling a high ankle sprain and even briefly appeared to re-aggravate it after Luguentz Dort dove into his leg during the second half.

“Once the pain subsides for a little bit, I felt like I was fine,” Fox said, via Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News.

Harper, meanwhile, clearly looked limited after injuring his adductor in Game 2, scoring just six points Friday.

Still, San Antonio knows the bigger picture revolves around Victor Wembanyama.

The 22-year-old superstar has been spectacular throughout the postseason, but after back-to-back losses, even Wembanyama admitted he needs to elevate the players around him more consistently.

“I feel like I’m having trouble making my teammates better right now,” he said.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson also pointed toward Oklahoma City’s free-throw advantage as a major issue in Game 3, especially with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander getting to the line 12 times.

Celtics

Former Celtics star Isaiah Thomas officially has entered the next phase of his basketball career.

Thomas revealed on his “Point Game” podcast that he recently joined the Celtics organization as a scout, calling the move an important first step toward eventually becoming an NBA executive.

“It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do,” Thomas said, via Khari Thompson of the Boston Globe.

The former All-Star already represented Boston at last week’s draft combine in Chicago, where he participated in player interviews and evaluations.

Elsewhere, the Giannis Antetokounmpo speculation surrounding Boston refuses to disappear.

MassLive’s Brian Robb noted the Celtics could eventually explore moving wing depth pieces like Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman or Jordan Walsh this offseason. And Chad Finn of The Boston Globe argued Boston should seriously consider including Jaylen Brown in a potential Giannis blockbuster.

Whether the Bucks would actually entertain that type of deal remains another question entirely.