Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returns vs New York Knicks
By Rylan Stiles
The OKC Thunder continues their annual New Year’s Eve tradition of hosting a basketball game to ring in the New Year in Downtown Oklahoma City at the Paycom Center. Tonight the Thunder welcome the New York Knicks to town as neither team is playing at full strength.
The Oklahoma City Thunder were without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Wednesday against the Suns, minutes before tip-off on the second night of a back-to-back the OKC Thunder max point guard was scratched from the starting lineup due to right ankle soreness, the same ailment that held him out of action earlier this season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Aleksej Pokusevski return for OKC Thunder against the New York Knicks
Mike Wilks informed the media pregame that star point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would return to the lineup tonight in Bricktown against the Knicks. The Oklahoma City Thunder get some much-needed playmaking back in the lineup, and an offensive catalyst.
The OKC Thunder also got back second-year forward Aleksej Pokusevski who was previously in the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols. The Thunder now have gained back Derrick Favors, Pokusevski, and Aaron Wiggins who spent mere hours in the league’s protocols. Still in the COVID-19 protocols for the Oklahoma City Thunder are Darius Bazley, Tre Mann, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and Josh Giddey. The Thunder also miss Vit Krejci (right ankle sprain, G-League assignment). Kenrich Williams was also upgraded to available after previously being questionable with an ankle injury.
The New York Knicks miss three key pieces in the form of Julius Randle, Derrick Rose, and Kemba Walker as well as Nerlens Noel, Wayne Selden, Danuel House Jr, Jericho Sims, and Luka Samanic.
The OKC Thunder will start Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Paul Watson Jr, and Isaiah Roby against the Knicks as Mike Wilks will look for his first win as acting head coach as Mark Daigneault remains in health and safety protocols.