Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been cleared to return for the Oklahoma City Thunder after missing each of the team’s last nine games with an abdominal strain.
According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, SGA is not currently listed on the team’s injury report for Friday’s game against the Denver Nuggets.
At the very least, Gilgeous-Alexander will be available for the contest, but he could be on a minutes restriction. After all, the Thunder are still atop the Western Conference standings. There is no need to immediately rush their star player back to the court.
That said, they do only sit two games above San Antonio in the West. Perhaps SGA could play more than anticipated if the Thunder are in danger of losing the game late. Here’s what to know.
Will SGA play against Denver?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to play Friday against Denver.
There were concerns early on that SGA would miss extended time, pushing him out of the race for MVP due to the 65-game rule. Those worries have disappeared with his return, and SGA has re-emerged as the favorite to win the award.
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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors’ Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.
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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors’ Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.
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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 26: The Washington Wizards’ Cam Whitmore dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena.
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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets’ Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.
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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 25: The Denver Nuggets’ Christian Braun dunks the ball against the Phoenix Suns’ Grayson Allen at Ball Arena.
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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 24: The Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. dunks against the Miami Heat at FedExForum.
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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 24: The Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo dunks over the Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. at FedExForum.
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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 22: The New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby goes up for a reverse dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden.
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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 22: The Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen dunks against the Los Angeles Clippers at Delta Center.
How did Oklahoma City fare without SGA?
The Thunder went 5-4 in their nine games without SGA.
The Thunder are still without All-NBA forward Jalen Williams and key role player Ajay Mitchell.
Oklahoma City still sits two games above San Antonio for first place in the Western Conference. However, the Spurs have won 10 consecutive games and own the season tiebreaker between the two teams.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander injury update: Will Thunder star play?
