Shai Gilgeous-Alexander set to return from injury in big boost for Oklahoma City Thunder

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gilgeous-alexander-shai/d6TE5wgc/"]Gilgeous-Alexander[/a] was not on the official injury report for Friday's game against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/denver-nuggets/CxvW27TI/"]Denver Nuggets[/a] and will be available to play for the defending champions, who went 5-4 in his absence.[/p][p]Since Gilgeous-Alexander was hurt in a February 3 victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/orlando-magic/QZMS36Dn/"]Orlando[/a] the Thunder's lead atop the Western Conference has been cut to two games by the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/san-antonio-spurs/IwmkErSH/"]San Antonio Spurs[/a], who went into Thursday on a 10-game winning streak.[/p][p]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.[/p][embed guid="6169616c-8a61-4136-886f-f30346c09034" url="https://x.com/BannedMacMahon/status/2027157781459910797?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/oklahoma-city-thunder/0fHFHEWD/"]Oklahoma City[/a] will still be without [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/williams-jalen/4G5tbqUi/"]Jalen Williams[/a] and key reserve [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mitchell-ajay/zwwlrGJG/"]Ajay Mitchell[/a].[/p][p]But the return of Gilgeous-Alexander will be a huge boost for a team that started Wednesday's game against East-leading [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/detroit-pistons/UcjMRj6J/"]Detroit[/a] without four of its leading scorers in Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Mitchell and center [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/holmgren-chet/WxvJz45d/"]Chet Holmgren[/a].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hartenstein-isaiah/v5FbfBw9/"]Isaiah Hartenstein[/a] was also absent, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/joe-isaiah/bLTWgNgj/"]Isaiah Joe[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/carlson-brandon/reG0WXwH/"]Branden Carlson[/a] exited early with injuries as Detroit built a big lead then held on for the win.[/p][p]Holmgren, Hartenstein and Joe are also expected to be available against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jokic-nikola/dUHaiJ5n/"]Nikola Jokic[/a] and the Nuggets.[/p]