Mark Daigneault's OKC Thunder continue to find no shortage of success, as they are in the middle of a historic season with a jaw-dropping 23-1 overall record. Needless to say, Oklahoma City is playing at an elite level despite dealing with plenty of injury trouble.
There are a number of teams around the NBA that have been hit hard by the injury bug. Some of these teams have crumbled and are already thinking about the NBA Draft. Others, however, have been able to fight through and remain competitive.
The Thunder aren't just staying afloat -- they are dominating the competition with star power, an unstoppable defense, and impressive depth.
Thunder injuries haven't been a problem this season
The one-loss Thunder are not letting injuries slow them down. Coach Daigneault is pressing all of the right buttons, and the team simply cannot be stopped at the moment.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did not play on Sunday against Utah due to an elbow injury, while Isaiah Joe (knee), Alex Caruso (quadriceps), and Luguentz Dort (thigh) were among the other key inactives on the night.
Yet, OKC's depth stepped up and led the team to a convincing 131-101 win over the Jazz.
Sunday's contest was the perfect example for the current point being made. Oklahoma City features more than enough depth to win games even while battling a plethora of injury concerns.
Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams took over SGA's superstar role, as they both scored 25 points. Aaron Wiggins added 19 points, while Ousmane Dieng contributed 14. Six Thunder players ultimately scored double-digit points.
Of course, the defense told the story again. OKC limited Utah to just 101 points scored. The Thunder continue to lead their NBA opponents by a significant margin with a terrific 104.1 defensive rating. The Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors sit tied in a distant second place with their 110.7 defensive ratings.
Oklahoma City's defense is its driving force, but the offense is capable of taking care of business on any given night -- even when Gilgeous-Alexander does not play. Daigneault understands that Williams and Holmgren are stars as well, and he is willing to run the offense through both players.
In a perfect world, the Thunder's injured players would return to full health before next game. The unfortunate reality of sports is that injuries do occur. Fortunately, the Thunder are the most prepared squad in the NBA to play well even when injury absences happen.