Things got worse for the shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder, as they took on the Detroit Pistons tonight in a showdown between the two top seeds in either conference. Guard Isaiah Joe was one of two players the defending champions lost midway through the game, compounding their problems and ending some of the best basketball of his career.

Why did Isaiah Joe leave the game? What injury did he suffer?

Isaiah Joe, who started for the Thunder tonight due to the team’s injury situation, seemed fine in the first half, logging solid minutes, but things went sideways at halftime. When the game resumed after the break, Joe was nowhere to be seen, with trade deadline acquisition Jared McCain starting instead of him.

Later in the third quarter, the team announced that the guard was ruled out for the rest of the game with a left glute contusion.

This is a tough blow for the Thunder, who are already missing several key players, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, and Ajay Mitchell. The Thunder are down to nine players who are available to check into the game.

How did Isaiah Joe perform before leaving?

Isaiah Joe struggled tonight in particular before leaving. In under 14 minutes on the floor, he logged three points, connecting on one of his five shot attempts, along with two rebounds, an assist, and a steal. This is an especially bad night for someone who is considered one of the best offensive role-players in the league.

Across the season, Joe is averaging 11 points per game on an astounding 42.7% from three on six attempts per game, adding 1.5 assists and 2.6 rebounds. The guard has been a pivotal component of his team’s three-game winning streak, averaging 18.3 points, 2.3 assists, and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 58.5% from deep in wins over the Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Brooklyn Nets.

Joe has emerged as a solid rotation piece for the Thunder since his arrival in the 2022-23 season, and his production has grown each year.

How did the Oklahoma City Thunder adjust without Joe?

The Thunder faced several challenges today. Apart from losing Isaiah Joe, the team also missed rookie Branden Carlson, who was ruled out at the same time due to lower back soreness. On the floor, Joe was replaced by Jared McCain, who has also struggled with his shot tonight, but at the time of writing, has hit three beyond-the-arc shots after starting zero of four.

Most of the scoring burden, however, has been taken by defensive-minded guard Cason Wallace, who has served as the primary ball-handler tonight. Wallace has been lethal all game, logging 21 points, connecting on nine of his 16 shots while also dishing out four dimes and hitting three triples.

Unfortunately for the Thunder, the game has largely been dictated by the Pistons, who are operating with most of their key players. The All-Star duo of Jalen Duren and Cade Cunningham has completely dismantled the visitors’ defense, and most of the team’s rotation is having a solid offensive night.

The game is still recoverable for the Thunder, who, at the time of writing, are down by 11 in the fourth, but it’s going to be an uphill battle.