Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains out of the lineup

For Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, his quest to help the Thunder repeat as NBA Champions has hit another speed bump. Shai will be out of the lineup for the fifth straight game from an abdominal strain. Thunder fans shouldn’t expect to see the All-Star Guard until after the All-Star break.

Team doctors will reevaluate him then to see if he is eligible to return to his dominant All-Star form by February 20 against the Brooklyn Nets. Not only are Thunder fans disappointed, but so are fans of the new All-Star Game format. Shai Gilgeous Alexander is a member of Team World. However, according to BettingTop10.co.nz, Alperen Şengün has been selected to replace Gilgeous-Alexander in the lineup.

Currently, the NBA champions have the league’s best record at 40-12, and Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.8 points per game this season, which ranks only behind Luka Dončić of the Lakers. Donic is averaging 32.8 points per game. Besides the high scoring, Gilgeous-Alexander is responsible for most of Oklahoma City’s offensive output, including 535 made field goals, as well as 403 made free throws. For years, Shai has proven he can get to the basket with his slashing abilities, already drawing 452 free throw attempts. Well aware of the big shoes to fill, head coach Ma,rk Daigneault, has this to say:

“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.” Before his injury, Gilgeous-Alexander was the consensus favorite behind Jokic to win the MVP. Jokic has been dealing with a knee injury of his own. Before this recent injury, Shai had been an iron man on the court, having only missed three games.

Taking the coach’s message to heart, Kenrich Williams contributed 25 points, and Jaylin Williams added a double-double in a losing effort to the Spurs. It’s also important to note that the Thunder traded for Jared McCain from the 76ers, as well as backup center Mason Plumlee.

Disclaimer:
The statement that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains out of the lineup is for informational purposes only. This information is based on publicly available reports and has no affiliation with, endorsement from, or direct connection to the admin or author. Player status may change at any time, and readers should verify updates through official team sources.