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Sawt Falasteen - Thunder star Gilgeous-Alexander cleared for injury return

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Thunder star Gilgeous-Alexander cleared for injury return
Thunder star Gilgeous-Alexander cleared for injury return / Photo: William Purnell - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Thunder star Gilgeous-Alexander cleared for injury return

SPORTS 27.02.2026

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been cleared to return for the Oklahoma City Thunder after missing nine straight games with an abdominal strain.

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Gilgeous-Alexander was not on the official injury report for Friday's game against the Denver Nuggets and will be available to play for the defending champions, who went 5-4 in his absence.

Since Gilgeous-Alexander was hurt in a February 3 victory over Orlando the Thunder's lead atop the Western Conference has been cut to two games by the San Antonio Spurs, who went into Thursday on a 10-game winning streak.

Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.8 points, 6.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game and remains a favorite to repeat as MVP.

Oklahoma City will still be without Jalen Williams and key reserve Ajay Mitchell.

But the return of Gilgeous-Alexander will be a huge boost for a team that started Wednesday's game against East-leading Detroit without four of its leading scorers in Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Mitchell and center Chet Holmgren.

Isaiah Hartenstein was also absent, and Isaiah Joe and Branden Carlson exited early with injuries as Detroit built a big lead then held on for the win.

Holmgren, Hartenstein and Joe are also expected to be available against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.

V.AbuAwwad--SF-PST

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