Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein exit Thunder win vs. Knicks

"They were just ruled out for the rest of the game. We'll evaluate them tomorrow, but when they went out they weren't coming back. Both players were ruled out midway through the fourth quarter of a Thunder win that extended their lead over the San Antonio Spurs for the top seed in the Western Conference to 3.5 games."

"Caruso went up for a loose ball with 4:05 to go in the third quarter and then landed in a heap. He was clearly in pain before slowly limping to the locker room. He never returned to the bench. After the game, Caruso said he was a little sore but otherwise fine."

"Hartenstein already has missed two different stints this season because of a left calf injury, including 16 games after the second occurrence in late December. He sat out Tuesday's game in Chicago, along with reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, for injury maintenance. Against the Knicks, he only played 17 minutes, going scoreless."

The defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder secured a 103-100 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden despite ongoing injury concerns. Alex Caruso suffered a left hip contusion after colliding for a loose ball in the third quarter, while Isaiah Hartenstein experienced left calf tightness and was ruled out midway through the fourth quarter. Both players were evaluated and deemed unable to continue. The win extended Oklahoma City's lead in the Western Conference standings. The Thunder have faced persistent injuries throughout the season, with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell currently sidelined, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Hartenstein have dealt with various ailments. Despite these challenges, the team maintains its position atop the Western Conference.

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