Oklahoma City Thunder star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be sidelined until after the All-Star break due to an abdominal strain suffered in Tuesday’s game, the team announced Wednesday.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander To Miss All-Star Game
The Thunder said Gilgeous-Alexander would be reevaluated after the All-Star break. Oklahoma City’s first game after the break is Feb. 20 against the Brooklyn Nets.
This means Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to miss at least five games. He will also be unavailable for Team World in the new three-team All-Star Game format, and league commissioner Adam Silver will choose his replacement.
It’s disappointing news for the defending NBA champion Thunder, who have a league-best 40-12 record. Gilgeous-Alexander ranks second in scoring this season at 31.8 points per game.
SGA also leads the league in points (1,558), field goals (534), free throws (403), free throw attempts (452), win shares (11.4), and value over replacement player (5.7).
“He’s certainly a high-usage, high-impact player for us,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said Wednesday. “So we’ve got to do it as a group and collectively, which is what we do when he’s on the bench and he’s not on the court.”
Gilgeous-Alexander emerged as the heavy MVP favorite after Nikola Jokic’s knee injury.
Thunder Star Extended Scoring Streak
SGA extended his streak of games with at least 20 points to 121 in Tuesday’s 128-92 win over the Orlando Magic after he had been listed as questionable because of a right index finger sprain and illness.
He’s now within five of tying Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 126 straight games with 20 or more points.
SGA has only missed three games this campaign. Unless his absence extends beyond the All-Star break, he should still be able to fulfill the 65-game requirement for postseason award eligibility.
In Oklahoma City’s 116-106 loss at San Antonio on Wednesday night, Kenrich Williams scored 25 points and Jaylin Williams added 24 points and 12 rebounds with SGA sidelined.
The Thunder were without their entire regular starting lineup on the second night of a back-to-back. Although the team has won just three of its last seven games, it still has a five-game lead over the Spurs (34-16) in the standings.
In addition, OKC made a few trades Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET deadline.
The Thunder acquired guard Jared McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers for draft picks and traded reserve forward Ousmane Dieng to the Charlotte Hornets for Mason Plumlee.
