Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander suffered an abdominal strain during Tuesday night's win over the Orlando Magic and will miss at least the next five games. The reigning NBA MVP, selected as an All-Star starter, will not participate in the game in Los Angeles and faces re-evaluation after the break. The injury tests the Thunder's depth amid a tough schedule against Western Conference playoff contenders.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sustained an abdominal strain in the team's 128-92 blowout victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night. The Thunder announced the injury Wednesday, stating that the 26-year-old guard will sit out at least the next five games, including the upcoming matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. He will be re-evaluated following the All-Star break, which begins after the Thunder's final game before the Feb. 15 event in Los Angeles.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the heavy favorite to win back-to-back MVP awards, had appeared in 49 of Oklahoma City's 51 games this season prior to the injury. His selection as a starter for the World squad in the All-Star Game now requires NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to name a replacement, with Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengün and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid among prominent candidates from the initial pool.
The timetable for his return should preserve Gilgeous-Alexander's eligibility for end-of-season honors, as players can miss up to 17 games. Even if held out until early March as a precaution, he would have only 12 absences. In comparison, his top rival for MVP, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, has already missed 16 games and can afford just one more to remain eligible.
The Thunder, who hold the NBA's best record at 40-11, have gone 2-0 without Gilgeous-Alexander this season, defeating the Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz. However, the upcoming stretch presents a sterner test: road games against the Spurs, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Phoenix Suns, followed by a home contest versus the Milwaukee Bucks. This period will gauge Oklahoma City's depth without its MVP-caliber leader, who has been instrumental in their dominant campaign.
