The Thunder visit Houston without Holmgren, Jalen Williams or Caruso

The Oklahoma City Thunder play at Houston on Saturday night with a roster that barely looks like the one that went 64-18 last season. Chet Holmgren (knee), Jalen Williams (leg), Cason Wallace (shoulder), Alex Caruso (ankle) and Thomas Sorber (knee) are all listed out on ESPN's injury report for the 8:30 p.m. ET tip on NBA TV.

Holmgren's injury is the one that changes OKC's season. The Thunder were set to sign Ochai Agbaji to fill an open roster spot and backed out Saturday as the front office re-evaluates after losing Holmgren for two-plus months, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. That leaves Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 26.0 points, with even more to carry. Isaiah Hartenstein leads the team at 9.6 rebounds a game.

Houston got the better injury news. Alperen Sengun, who was questionable Friday with a back injury, is not on the team's injury report, per Underdog NBA. Sengun leads the Rockets in points (24.5), rebounds (9.0) and assists (7.0). Houston is still without Fred VanVleet (knee), Reed Sheppard (back) and Steven Adams (calf).

How they compare

The early numbers favor the Rockets. Houston scores 121.0 points a game on 50% shooting and 38% from three, per ESPN. Oklahoma City scores 108.2 on 44% and 31%. The Thunder's edge is on defense, where they allow 104.6 points to Houston's 110.0, and they block 6.8 shots a game.

Both teams are coming off losses in Dallas. Houston fell 116-111 on Friday, its first loss after a 5-0 start. The Thunder lost 120-96 there in their last game. DraftKings has Houston favored by 2.5, with a total of 219.5.

The betting market has noticed the shift out West. Underdog NBA posted odds giving Houston a 13% chance to reach the 2027 Western Conference finals, up nine points since the start of the season, behind San Antonio (34%) and Oklahoma City (24%).

What to watch: Whether the Thunder can stay close with this many bodies missing. If Gilgeous-Alexander has to score 35 for OKC to compete, the Agbaji decision will get a lot more attention this week. A Houston win sends the Rockets to 6-1.