Injury Report: Thunder Prepare to Battle Hornets Without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
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In the most crucial stretch of the season, the Thunder will have to battle the Hornets without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander was injured in the Thunder win over Portland on Sunday, and he’s been downgraded to out with an ankle sprain as OKC returns to the Paycom Center after a four game road trip.
It’s not the first time the Thunder have had to play a game without their star guard, but the growing importance of games as the seasons winds down could be a blow to the Thunder’s postseason efforts. OKC is 5-6 in games where Gilgeous-Alexander has sat out with injury.
The Thunder are in a tie with the Lakers for ninth in the Western Conference, they are a half game ahead of the Mavericks for the eleventh position, owning the tiebreaker against them.
The Hornets injury report is not ideal either, as many of their role players are listed on the report, including LaMelo Ball. The Hornets do not have the same postseason hopes as OKC as they have been eliminated from contention.
OKC will lean heavily on Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey to help fill the void left by Gilgeous-Alexander's absence.
Here are the most recent injury reports for both squads entering tonight:
Oklahoma City Thunder:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Out: Left Ankle Sprain
Lindy Waters: Out: Left Foot Plantar Fasciitis
Chet Holmgren: Out: Right foot surgery
Kenrich Williams: Out: Left Wrist Scapholunate Rupture
Charlotte Hornets: :
LaMelo Ball: Out: Right Ankle Surgery
Cody Martin: Out: Left Knee Soreness
Terry Rozier: Out: Right Foot Discomfort
Gordon Hayward: Doubtful: Left Thumb Sprain
Kelly Oubre Jr: Out: Right Shoulder Strain
Tip-off for the Hornets and Thunder is slated for 7 p.m. in OKC, the Thunder are currently nine-point favorites.
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