The Oklahoma City Thunder won’t have much time to celebrate their road victory over the Toronto Raptors. On the second night of a back-to-back, they head to Detroit to face the Pistons,  and they’ll do so severely shorthanded.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell and Isaiah Hartenstein will be out, and with it being the second night of a back-to-back, Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso are both listed as doubtful. That means Mark Daigneault could once again be leaning heavily on youth, depth pieces and two-way contributors to manufacture enough offense and defensive connectivity to steal another one on the road.

It won’t be easy against a Detroit team that prides itself on physicality and halfcourt execution. Here are three keys to the game for Oklahoma City.

The Thunder’s offensive identity the past few games has been defined by pace, cutting and quick decisions. Without Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams, there is no isolation safety valve to bail out stagnant possessions. That makes movement not just helpful, but essential.

Detroit is one of the better defensive teams in the league at shrinking the floor and forcing opponents into contested mid-range shots. They load up at the nail, tag rollers aggressively and rotate with purpose. If Oklahoma City holds the ball, tries to break defenders down one-on-one, or settles early in the clock, it will play directly into Detroit’s strengths.

The way to find cracks in that defense is through sharp reversals, drive-and-kicks and weak-side cuts. When the Thunder have been at their best recently, the ball hasn’t stuck. It has pinged from side to side, forcing multiple defensive rotations in a single possession. That’s when closeouts get longer, driving lanes widen and rhythm threes appear.

Even if shots don’t fall early, the process has to remain intact. Movement creates advantages. Standing still eliminates them.

Like Toronto, Detroit prefers to live inside the arc. The Pistons generate a high volume of two-point attempts, putting pressure on the rim and the paint while also drawing fouls at one of the highest rates in the league. If Oklahoma City allows straight-line drives and constant paint touches, it will be a long night.

With several key defenders potentially sidelined, point-of-attack defense becomes even more critical. Guards and wings must contain the first action, sliding laterally, fighting over screens and avoiding unnecessary reach-ins 30 feet from the basket.

When the initial defender gets beat cleanly, the Thunder’s help defense is forced to collapse. That opens up dump-offs, short floaters and offensive rebounding lanes. It also puts defenders in rotation, which is where fouls often occur.

The goal should be to crowd ball handlers, influence them into tougher pull-ups and make Detroit finish over length rather than through contact. Discipline is vital. The Pistons want to get comfortable in the mid-range and at the rim. Taking that comfort away, even slightly, could swing several possessions.

On paper, this is not a game many expect Oklahoma City to win. It’s the second night of a road back-to-back, against a rested opponent, without multiple starters and potentially without two more key contributors.

That reality can either weigh on a young team or liberate it.

The Thunder have an opportunity to play loose, with energy and joy. Missed shots will happen. Turnovers will happen. Legs may feel heavy. But dwelling on mistakes only compounds them.

The formula should be simple: sprint back on defense, communicate, trust the pass and move on to the next play. When Oklahoma City plays with freedom rather than hesitation, the ball tends to find the right player. Confidence becomes contagious.

If the Thunder can combine sharp movement, disciplined point-of-attack defense and a fearless mindset, they’ll give themselves a chance to sweep the back-to-back. In a game where expectations are low, effort and connectivity can be the great equalizers.