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Head coach Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder high fives Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as he walks to the bench.
The sight of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander standing on the sideline during overtime raised immediate questions Friday night, but for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the decision was rooted firmly in long-term health — not hesitation.
Gilgeous-Alexander did not play in the extra period of Oklahoma City’s gritty 127–121 overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets because he remains under a minutes restriction after returning from a nine-game absence caused by an abdominal strain.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault explained postgame that the plan was established well before tipoff, even if it meant sitting the reigning NBA MVP when the outcome was still undecided.
“He’s coming off a 24-day injury. There’s a return-to-play process,” Daigneault said. “One of the conditions of getting him on the court tonight is holding him at a certain point, minutes-wise. We actually discussed that situation with both him and [Isaiah Hartenstein] before the game, just so we were all clear in a non-emotional moment that if we were in that situation, that’s what we would do.
“I understand it’s a little unorthodox, but at the end of the day, we’re trying to prioritize the health of our players as they come back from injury.”
Thunder Win Without Their Star in Overtime
Despite Gilgeous-Alexander’s absence in overtime, Oklahoma City executed cleanly on both ends to close out one of its most physical wins of the season.
The Thunder opened the extra frame by scoring the first five points and never trailed, relying on defensive discipline and timely shot-making to fend off Denver. The victory allowed Oklahoma City to maintain its position atop the Western Conference standings, preserving a two-game cushion over the San Antonio Spurs.
Gilgeous-Alexander still finished with a team-high 36 points — all in regulation — in his first game back after nearly a month away.
A Chippy Game Turns Contentious Late
The matchup intensified late in the fourth quarter, culminating in a controversial ejection that shifted the tone of the game.
With 8:03 remaining and the Thunder holding a narrow 90–88 lead, Luguentz Dort was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul for tripping Nikola Jokić during a loose-ball scramble, resulting in an automatic ejection.
The play sparked a brief altercation, with Jokić and Jaylin Williams exchanging shoves and each receiving an offsetting technical foul.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shrugs Off the Incident
Asked about the altercation, Gilgeous-Alexander avoided inflaming the situation and instead framed it as part of high-stakes basketball between familiar opponents.
“As far as the scrimmage, that’s usually how it goes,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Something happens, one team roars, the other team roars. I’m not too sure what happened. Lou got thrown out, and Lou’s not that type of guy. He’s just trying to go out there and win.
“I didn’t really see what happened, but yeah — it’s all good.”
Rather than bristling at the physicality, Gilgeous-Alexander welcomed it.
“It was great — the physicality,” he added. “Two teams wanted to win really badly, and they were going at it. They’re obviously a high-level team. We’re a high-level team, and we’ve seen each other a lot over the past couple of years.
“End-of-season basketball is like that. It’s chippy, it’s physical. So it was good to get one of those in the regular season.”
Thunder Rally Late, Finish Strong
Oklahoma City trailed 83–77 entering the fourth quarter before clawing back behind Gilgeous-Alexander’s shot-making. The Thunder took a 107–105 lead with 1:23 remaining in regulation, only for Jokić to answer with a tying basket with 38 seconds left.
Denver had a chance to win in regulation after Christian Braun blocked a late attempt by Gilgeous-Alexander, sending the game to overtime — where the Thunder prevailed without their star on the floor.
Health Over Headlines
For Daigneault and the Thunder, the decision to sit Gilgeous-Alexander in overtime reflected organizational discipline rather than short-term bravado.
With Oklahoma City firmly positioned near the top of the West and postseason ambitions extending well beyond one regular-season game, the Thunder made it clear Friday night: protecting their franchise cornerstone remains the priority even when the spotlight is brightest.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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