{"id":72110,"date":"2024-04-06T18:50:49","date_gmt":"2024-04-06T22:50:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=72110"},"modified":"2024-04-06T18:50:49","modified_gmt":"2024-04-06T22:50:49","slug":"oklahoma-city-thunder-to-get-boost-with-return-of-two-stars-soon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/04\/06\/oklahoma-city-thunder-to-get-boost-with-return-of-two-stars-soon\/","title":{"rendered":"Oklahoma City Thunder To Get Boost With Return Of Two Stars Soon?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Oklahoma City Thunder are on pace for their best regular season in a decade. But their ability to finish strong may depend on whether they can get their top two players back from injury. Coach Mark Daigneault is optimistic that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/strong><\/a> and Jalen Williams <\/strong><\/a>will return before the end of the regular season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe timetable is dictated by how (SGA and Williams) respond to the recovery and that whole process,\u201d Daigneault told Joel Lorenzi of\u00a0 The Oklahoman.<\/a>\u00a0\u201c\u2026 We just gotta let the time table play out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City Thunder To Get Boost With Return Of Two Stars Soon?<\/h2>\n

OKC, one of three Western Conference teams to have already clinched a playoff spot, has lost three as Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams have sat out each game.<\/p>\n

Williams, dealing with an ankle injury, was downgraded from doubtful to out before the Thunder’s 126-112 loss to Indiana on Friday night. The 22-year-old forward has been ruled out for Sunday’s contest in Charlotte. However, Williams may be available against Sacramento on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

However, Gilgeous-Alexander returned to OKC on Thursday. The Thunder were concerned that SGA would lose some conditioning, as he has missed five of the last six games due to a quad injury.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need[ed] to make sure he doesn\u2019t decondition during this time, and gym access on the road is much more difficult to come by,\u201d said Daigneault.<\/p>\n

So, obviously, Gilgeous-Alexander won’t play against the Hornets, and his status against the Kings is up in the air. However, Daigneault said that he is encouraged by SGA’s progress.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s made progress. I\u2019m not encouraged or discouraged. He\u2019s progressing through it.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n