Oklahoma City Thunder have been dealt a significant blow ahead of the NBA All-Star break, with star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ruled out of action until after the midseason pause due to an abdominal strain, the team confirmed on Wednesday.
The reigning MVP sustained the injury during Oklahoma City’s emphatic 128-92 win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night. As a result, Gilgeous-Alexander will miss the NBA All-Star Games scheduled for February 15, with league commissioner Adam Silver set to name a replacement. The Thunder also confirmed that the 25-year-old will sit out Wednesday night’s highly anticipated matchup against the San Antonio Spurs and will be re-evaluated following the break.
The absence of Gilgeous-Alexander is a major setback for the defending NBA champions, who currently boast the league’s best record at 40-11. The Canadian guard has been the driving force behind Oklahoma City’s dominance, averaging 31.8 points per game to rank second in the NBA scoring charts. His consistency has been remarkable, highlighted by a streak of 121 consecutive games scoring at least 20 points — the second-longest such run in league history, behind only Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 126.
Gilgeous-Alexander narrowly preserved that streak on Tuesday night, finishing with exactly 20 points before being rested for the fourth quarter in a lopsided contest. Beyond his scoring, he has enjoyed perhaps his most complete season to date, ranking 14th in the league in field-goal percentage at 55.4 per cent and 15th in assists with 6.4 per game.
His injury adds to a growing list of health concerns for the Thunder. Oklahoma City was already shorthanded against Orlando, playing without Jalen Williams, who missed his eighth straight game with a hamstring injury, and Ajay Mitchell, sidelined for a sixth consecutive contest due to an abdominal strain. Williams was an All-Star in 2025, while Mitchell has emerged as one of the league’s most improved players in his second season.
The situation worsened on Wednesday, with Oklahoma City resting much of its rotation. Williams and Mitchell remain out, while All-Star center Chet Holmgren (lower back spasms), starting guard Lu Dort (knee inflammation), starting center Isaiah Hartenstein (eye abrasion) and reserve Alex Caruso (right adductor) are all listed as unavailable.
Hartenstein had only just returned from injury and recorded the first triple-double of his NBA career on Tuesday, underscoring the challenging stretch the Thunder now face as they attempt to navigate a congested injury list without their superstar leader.
