Key pieces set to return for OKC Thunder vs Pelicans

The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the midst of a wild play-in chase with the NBA Western Conference standings jumbled up. The OKC Thunder sits a game out of the postseason. This week, Oklahoma City earned a massive win over the defending World Champion Warriors before dropping a match to the Suns, where the OKC Thunder missed vital pieces.

The Oklahoma City Thunder did not have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or rookie Jalen Williams travel to Phoenix to take on the Suns on Wednesday on the second night of a home/road back-to-back. The OKC Thunder saw Williams suffer a wrist sprain on Sunday against the Jazz in a contact play at the rim. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on a management plan for his abdominal injury, including back-to-backs management.

On Saturday, the OKC Thunder will see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams return against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Today at practice, Oklahoma City Thunder bench boss Mark Daigneault told the assembled media at practice that All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and soon-to-be All-Rookie forward Jalen Williams would return to the hardwood for the OKC Thunder on Saturday against the New Orleans Pelicans in the Smoothie King Center.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been dealing with an abdominal strain, and if this were October, SGA would be resting every game instead of just managing his workload on a back-to-back.

Jalen Williams will return for the first time since Sunday’s Jazz game after missing two straight contests on Tuesday and Wednesday with a wrist sprain.

The New Orleans Pelicans sit at 32-34, 3-7 in their last ten games, and in control of the final NBA Play-in spot. So whoever wins this game feels great heading into the season’s final stretch. The Pels have announced Brandon Ingram will be questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Thunder.

The Thunder are starring down the barrel of another back-to-back jetting down to San Antonio on Sunday following this game against the Pelicans.

A sweep of this back-to-back set would put the Thunder in the driver’s seat for their final 14 games of the season.