The OKC Thunder came into Monday Night with their star point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander listed as questionable due to an ankle injury he suffered in Saturday’s tilt with the Boston Celtics. SGA will not be active tonight against the Atlanta Hawks.
Dave Bliss, who is still the acting head coach as the Oklahoma City Thunder battle without their traditional bench boss Mark Daigneault who is out for this road trip as he and his wife Ashley are expecting the birth of their child. Bliss made the announcement that the OKC Thunder star would be inactive tonight and day-to-day moving forward.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is out vs the Atlanta Hawks, Day to day with an ankle injury.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will have an off day on Tuesday before taking on the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, and the Washington Wizards on Friday back in the friendly confines of the Paycom Center in downtown Oklahoma City. It, of course, is unknown if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be able to suit up during the coming days as the Oklahoma City Thunder open up a homestand.
Without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the starting five Dave Bliss had to shake things up for the first five…and boy did he ever. The Oklahoma City Thunder will roll out a five-man lineup we have yet to see so far this season.
Dave Bliss, the former center, will start two typical fives in the first group. Josh Giddey takes over the full-time point guard duties now that SGA is out, Lu Dort joins Giddey in the backcourt. Darius Bazley slides up to the small forward spot, which could look a bit more natural for him.
The OKC Thunder frontcourt will be Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Derrick Favors for the first segment of the contest. We will see how they play off each other and how long Bliss can get away with this awkward starting group.