NBA: Banged-up stars in focus as Thunder, Spurs prepare for Game 3

It has only been two games, but the Western Conference finals between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder have already turned into a battle of attrition.

The Spurs entered the series without starting point guard De'Aaron Fox, who suffered an ankle sprain in Game 4 of the conference semifinals against Minnesota. Heading into Game 3 Friday in San Antonio, with the series tied 1-1, the Spurs could also be without rookie guard Dylan Harper. Harper injured his right adductor muscle in the third quarter of Wednesday's 122-113 loss in Game 2. Both Fox and Harper are listed as questionable for Game 3.

Oklahoma City seemed closer to full health when Jalen Williams started Game 1 after missing the previous six games with a hamstring injury. But Williams left early in Game 2 on Wednesday due to tightness in his left hamstring. Williams has missed extended time this season because of two right hamstring injuries.

The Thunder were 39-10 without Williams during the regular season and won all six playoff games he missed. He is currently questionable for Friday’s matchup.

"I still believe in this team," said Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. "We played a bunch of games without (Williams) and won big games without him. But losing a guy of his caliber, no matter how good your team is otherwise, it hurts a little bit."

Oklahoma City appears to have avoided a major injury to guard Ajay Mitchell, who started in place of Williams during those six playoff games and has been a key contributor to the Thunder's success. Mitchell went down grabbing his leg in the final minute of Wednesday’s game but said afterward he would be ready for Game 3. He did not appear on Thursday’s injury report.

For the Spurs, Stephon Castle remains a key contributor, even when Fox and Harper are healthy. Without them, however, his role becomes even more critical. Castle averaged 21 points and 9.5 assists in the first two games of the series, though he also averaged 10 turnovers.

"I think it's more personal on my end, just really speeding myself up, not allowing our screeners to get hits," Castle said. "It puts me in a position where I have to play fast, or my screener might get an offensive foul."

San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson remains confident in the 21-year-old Castle. "This team is as good as anybody at forcing turnovers. When you’re down some of your primary creators, it causes extra strain," Johnson said. "We’ll have to be sharper in that area because it’s tough enough fully loaded against these guys."

Alex Caruso has also been a major factor for the Thunder, scoring 48 points in the first two games after tallying 61 points in Oklahoma City’s first eight playoff games. Caruso has been central to the Thunder's defensive efforts as well.

"He's just got unbelievable focus, and he's a monster competitor," Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said. "The bigger the moment, the bigger the game, the more he wants to compete. And even when he fails, he doesn’t blink—he stays aggressive in the next game."

—Field Level Media/Reuters