Will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander play today for the Thunder against the Bucks?
The NBA star is recovering from an injury as the Thunder take on the Bucks.
Oklahoma City Thunder fans tuning in for Thursday night’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks are still waiting on news about their franchise star, Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander.
The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player will not be taking to the floor at the Paycom Center for this game, as he remains sidelined with a significant injury.
Gilgeous-Alexander has been out of action for several games now due to an abdominal strain he suffered earlier in February and today is no different - he is listed as ‘out’ on the official report.
The Thunder announced that he would be kept away from the court for the All-Star break while he recovers, with a plan in place to reassess his status once that hiatus comes to an end. That means he was unavailable for the last few outings leading into this clash with the Bucks; that plan continues tonight.
The absence of Gilgeous-Alexander is a significant blow to Oklahoma City’s early-season dominance. He has been one of the most dynamic scorers and playmakers in the league this season, averaging around 31.8 points per game, along with roughly 6.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds, making him both the team’s top scorer and playmaker.
Without SGA on the court, the Oklahoma attack will need to rely more heavily on other stars like Chet Holmgren and Cam Thomas.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s absence doesn’t come in isolation: Carlson (back spasms), Hartenstein (soleus), Mitchell (ankle), Sorber (ACL), Williams (hamstring) are all unavailable for the Thunder.
The Bucks, meanwhile, are also navigating their own injury questions. While Giannis Antetokounmpo is out due to a calf issue, they’ll still be looking to seize this opportunity against an underpowered OKC.
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The Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Milwaukee Bucks at Paycom Center today at 07:30 (ET). With a 42-13 record so far, they sit atop the Western Conference; their opponents come into the game with a 22-30 record from the eastern division. The game will be broadcast on Amazon Prime.
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