Volkswacht Bodensee - Thunder star Gilgeous-Alexander cleared for injury return

NYSE - LSE

CMSC	-0.2%	22.065	$
RBGPF	0%	61.3	$
RIO	-1.65%	94.03	$
BCE	0.69%	23.2	$
GSK	-1.92%	51.09	$
RELX	-0.19%	31.15	$
CMSD	0.27%	22.02	$
AZN	1.09%	183.02	$
BCC	7.55%	77.66	$
RYCEF	-0.89%	18	$
NGG	1.52%	82.83	$
JRI	-0.48%	12.57	$
VOD	-1.74%	13.81	$
BTI	1.06%	61.39	$
BP	-3.88%	37.86	$

Thunder star Gilgeous-Alexander cleared for injury return / Photo: © 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.

Text size:

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.

A.Zbinden--VB

Volkswacht Bodensee - Thunder star Gilgeous-Alexander cleared for injury return

Thunder star Gilgeous-Alexander cleared for injury return

Featured

Dominant Osaka cruises into Bad Homburg semis

IOC votes to continue ski mountaineering for 2030 Games

New Zealand frustrate England as Stokes returns for series decider

Tunisia's short-lived World Cup experience lays bare deep dysfunctions