Thunder Vs Raptors: Cason Wallace Lifts OKC to 116-107 Win as Depth and Injuries Reshape Momentum (Feb 24, 2026)

Why this matters now: Thunder Vs Raptors on Feb 24, 2026 exposed how deep the Thunder are when core starters are unavailable. OKC’s 116-107 victory in Toronto — pushed over the finish by Cason Wallace — shifts short-term expectations for the team’s rotation and underscores how bench play can sustain a 45-14 run. The win also leaves open several roster questions ahead of the next stretch.

Momentum check: what the 116-107 win signals about OKC’s run

Here’s the part that matters: the Thunder entered this game missing several expected contributors but still left Scotiabank Arena with a road win that read 116-107. The result reinforces a market/performance shift for OKC — a club carrying a 45-14 record — showing it can absorb absences and still close out tight games in hostile environments.

Game snapshot and decisive moments from Toronto

The contest unfolded at Scotiabank Arena, the venue that serves as home to Toronto’s basketball team and the NHL’s Maple Leafs, though there was no ice that night. Cason Wallace emerged as the primary finisher, using a between-the-legs stepback on Jamal Shead in the second quarter before burying a right-wing 3-pointer. Wallace finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists on 11-for-16 shooting (4 for 5 from deep).

Toronto briefly tied the score with 4: 06 remaining. Wallace then scored six points over the final stretch, including a 3-footer at the 1: 38 mark that effectively sealed the outcome for OKC. The bench also played a role: one veteran guard stepped up defensively in the third quarter, stealing the ball from Immanuel Quickley and initiating a fastbreak that led to Lu Dort’s long-range make. Caruso provided a scoring punch off the bench, totaling 16 points, four assists and two steals in 23 minutes.

Injuries, availability and rotation notes

Availability shaped the night. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was out with an abdominal strain; Jalen Williams did not play due to a right hamstring strain; Ajay Mitchell was sidelined for abdominal strain and a left ankle sprain. Caruso had been listed as questionable after a left ankle sprain that kept him out of the prior win over Cleveland on Sunday, but he appeared unimpeded in Toronto.

Unclear in the provided context is Chet Holmgren’s status beyond the headline question asking whether he would play tonight. The pregame chatter included an injury report and a prediction piece focused on that question.

Role performances, hometown moments and opponent lines

Lu Dort, a Montreal native, paused after the pregame workout to sign autographs for local fans rather than jogging straight into the tunnel. He said he grew up in Montreal and that this was the team he and his family followed; he also noted it felt good to play in front of family and friends. Dort finished with 15 points, five rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes and spent much of the night defending an All-Star forward who was held to 15 points on 6-for-14 shooting (2 for 4 from deep).

Edging into color: even on a cold night in Toronto, the Thunder cranked up the offense. The team’s bench and transition play produced the kind of late-game stops and makes that matter on the road.

• Wallace’s stat line: 27 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists; 11-for-16 FG, 4-for-5 3PT.
• Caruso’s contribution off the bench: 16 points, 4 assists, 2 steals in 23 minutes.
• Lu Dort: 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists in 34 minutes; noted hometown appearance and fan interactions.
• Opponent forward: 15 points on 6-for-14 shooting (2-for-4 from three).

What’s easy to miss is how many moving parts went into a single road win: the scoreboard hides a sequence of rotations, pregame availability notes and in-game adjustments that the Thunder executed late.

Side notes, promotions and logistical oddities from coverage

A regional news website displayed a browser-not-supported notice and urged readers to download modern browsers to ensure the site functions properly. Promotional lines around this game included mentions of a new book about the Thunder’s run to an NBA title and a separate prediction package about the team’s chances, plus an injury-update item focused on the absences of SGA, Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell.

If you’re wondering why this keeps coming up: the mix of absences and bench production will be the real test of whether this victory is a single resilient performance or a sustained pattern. The real question now is whether the Thunder can replicate this closeness of execution without their full complement of starters.

Timeline (game day micro-layer):

• Pregame: visiting players finished workout; most jog toward the tunnel while Lu Dort stopped to sign autographs.
• Second quarter: Wallace’s between-the-legs stepback and right-wing 3-pointer highlighted his scoring surge.
• Late game: Toronto tied it with 4: 06 remaining; Wallace scored six closing points, including a 1: 38 3-footer that served as the dagger.

Forward signals to watch for confirmation of the trend include changes to rotation minutes and updates on the injured players’ statuses; these will indicate whether this win was a one-off or part of a deeper performance shift for a 45-14 Thunder team.