The Oklahoma City Thunder have dominated the NBA this season, leading the league with an impressive 40-13 record and establishing themselves as the team to beat in the Western Conference. However, their pursuit of back-to-back championships has hit a significant roadblock, leaving fans across the league holding their breath.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP and the engine driving Oklahoma City’s success, has been noticeably absent from the Thunder lineup. Tonight’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers is just one of several games the Thunder superstar will be forced to miss from the sidelines, leaving his team to adjust without their primary offensive weapon.
When Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Coming Back?
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sustained an abdominal strain and will be re-evaluated following the All-Star break. The injury occurred during Oklahoma City’s dominant 128-92 victory over the Orlando Magic on February 3, though the Thunder star played through the discomfort to finish the game.
Despite dealing with abdominal strain, Gilgeous-Alexander still managed 20 points and nine assists against the Magic, extending his incredible streak of consecutive 20-point games to 121, the second-longest in NBA history behind only Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary 126-game run. He played 28 minutes in that contest before the Thunder organization decided to sideline him for precautionary reasons.
The absence means Gilgeous-Alexander will miss at least five games before being re-evaluated after the All-Star break. The Thunder’s first game following the break is scheduled for February 20 at home against the Brooklyn Nets, which could serve as a potential target date for his return.
Most significantly, the All-Star starter will now miss the Feb. 15 All-Star Game in Inglewood, where he was set to represent Team World. Houston Rockets star Alperen Şengün was recently named as SGA’s replacement.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Oklahoma City’s backcourt depth. The Thunder are already missing Jalen Williams with a hamstring strain, creating a significant void in their rotation. Additionally, the injury report lists Nikola Topic, Thomas Saber, and Ajay Mitchell as out with various ailments, leaving the Thunder severely depleted.
Gilegeous-Alexander’s presence on the court has been sorely missed as the defending champions navigate a challenging stretch of their schedule. Without the reigning MVP in the lineup, the Thunder have already dropped two back-to-back games against the San Antonio Spurs (116-106) and Houston Rockets (112-106).
Gilgeous-Alexander has been nothing short of sensational this season, averaging 31.8 points per game while shooting an elite 55.4% from the field and 39.0% from three-point range. His 6.4 assists per game further demonstrate his versatility, making him the frontrunner to win back-to-back MVP awards. Despite the missed games, he should still meet the 65-game threshold required for postseason award eligibility.
