The Oklahoma City Thunder are riding a two-game win streak and looking to head into the All-Star break on a high note. But they'll face a tough test Thursday night when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks in their final game before the midseason pause. It’s a rematch of last month’s showdown - a game the Thunder controlled wire to wire, walking away with a dominant 122-102 win.
This time around, though, they’ll be without their engine.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP and the heartbeat of this Thunder squad, has officially been ruled out for the fifth straight game due to an abdominal strain. It’s a tough blow for a team that’s been gaining serious momentum in the Western Conference.
Gilgeous-Alexander has been nothing short of sensational this season. In 49 games, he’s averaged 31.8 points, 6.4 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per night - numbers that don’t just pop off the stat sheet, they scream MVP-caliber impact. He’s been the steady hand in crunch time, the offensive initiator, and the defensive spark plug all rolled into one.
Without him, Oklahoma City will need to lean on its depth and young supporting cast, something they’ve managed to do with surprising poise in his absence. But make no mistake - going into Milwaukee without your superstar is a tall order. The Bucks are a veteran-laden team with championship pedigree and plenty to prove after that lopsided loss to OKC just a few weeks back.
The Thunder are hoping Gilgeous-Alexander will be ready to return after the All-Star break. Their next opportunity to get him back on the floor comes Feb. 20 against the Brooklyn Nets.
For now, all eyes are on how this young Thunder team responds to adversity - and whether they can keep the momentum alive without their MVP in the lineup.