The Oklahoma City Thunder are starting one of the most important stretches of their season, a four-game West Coast trip. This trip for the OKC Thunder features two games against the Clippers in a baseball-style series capped off by a Lakers back-to-back and ends in Portland on Sunday.
Since returning from his nagging Abdominal strain, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has not played in the second night of back-to-back sets yet. This week is one of the season’s most important games against the Lakers.
Oklahoma City Thunder bench boss Mark Daigneault was asked how the team will manage Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during this stretch. He said the team is “open-minded” about allowing Gilgeous-Alexander to play in both L.A. contests.
The OKC Thunder are “open-minded” to letting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander play in both games of this week’s back-to-back set.
Mark Daigneault said the Thunder are “open-minded” to SGA playing on back-to-backs moving forward, explaining “the back-to-backs are more on the table now.”
Mark Daigneault said the Thunder is "open-minded" to SGA playing on back-to-backs moving forward (like the upcoming one Thursday/Friday.)
— Joe Mussatto (@joe_mussatto) March 22, 2023
Daigneault said SGA has responded well from abdominal strain: "The back to backs are more on the table now when they were then."
While nothing is set in stone with this quote, things are trending to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing in both contests. Where is good news for the OKC Thunder typically, but especially in L.A., where SGA dominates.
The Oklahoma City Thunder sit with a 35-36 record, currently in control of the 9th seed of the NBA play-in tournament, but just a game away from the sixth seed and planting their flag firmly in the postseason.
With a 7-3 record in their last ten games, a good week on the road, after upsetting the Suns on Sunday, would nearly solidify the Thunder’s postseason bid.