Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has missed four of their last six games due to a left knee sprain. Per Joe Mussatto of Oklahoman Sports, Gilgeous-Alexander hasn't looked much different from how he usually does during his pre-game routines. However, the Thunder will still take a very cautious approach in terms of determining SGA's return.
Daigneault on SGA (left knee sprain): "His warmup actually doesn't look very different from how it normally looks. Again, we're just being really cautious with the schedule and playing the long game with not only Shai, but all these guys."
— Joe Mussatto (@joe_mussatto) February 13, 2021
Veteran big man Al Horford knows how much Gilgeous-Alexander means for their team and they are certainly feeling the effects of his absence on the floor.
Via Brandon Rahbar of the Daily Thunder:
Al Horford on playing shorthanded: "Obviously we miss Shai, period. He does so much for us. Gives guys open shots, puts pressure on the rim."
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) February 13, 2021
Gilgeous-Alexander missed two straight games against the Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 3 and Feb. 5, respectively due to the knee issue. It seemed like the injury was behind him after he returned to the floor and turned in magnificent performances in his next two outings. However, SGA returned to the sidelines after dropping 60 points in two games against the Timberwolves and the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.
The 22-year old has become the offensive focal point for Oklahoma City this season, especially after they traded former All-Star point guard Chris Paul this off-season.
The Thunder are currently dealing with an undermanned squad during this stretch of the season. Aside from their star shooting guard, Oklahoma City is also missing veteran floor general George Hill, who will still miss at least a couple more weeks after undergoing a thumb procedure over a week ago. Furthermore, the Thunder are also without rookie point guard Theo Maledon, who is out due to the league's health and safety protocols.
Nevertheless, despite their current roster situation, the Thunder have remained competitive and lost by an average of 2.0 points in their three games without Gilgeous-Alexander.
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