OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso was assisted to the locker room during the first half of Monday night's game against the Phoenix Suns and later ruled out with a right ankle sprain.

The injury is ill-timed for the Thunder, as Caruso was expected to see increased minutes in the wake of long-term injuries to starters Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace.

Caruso came up limping in the final two minutes of the second quarter with the Thunder leading 61-47.

Williams and Wallace were hurt in Sunday night's 108-101 win over the Clippers and will require surgery. A third starter, Chet Holmgren, missed Monday's game with patellar tendinitis in the right knee.

Ajay Mitchell started for Williams and gave the Thunder a lift with 18 points in the first half. Jared McCain started for Wallace and contributed 10 points. Caruso added nine points for Oklahoma City, which led 67-53 at halftime.

The Thunder were also without star big man Chet Holmgren, who sat with knee inflammation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.