Overview
- The Thunder announced the reigning MVP has an abdominal strain and will miss at least five games, with a re-evaluation set for after the All-Star break.
- Selected as an All-Star starter, Gilgeous-Alexander will not play, and Commissioner Adam Silver will appoint a replacement to the World team.
- He suffered the injury in Tuesday’s win over the Magic, when he reached 20 points to extend his streak to 121 straight 20-point games, five shy of Wilt Chamberlain’s mark.
- Oklahoma City traded with the 76ers for guard Jared McCain, sending a first-round pick and three second-rounders to bolster backcourt depth during the absence.
- OKC opened the stretch without him with a loss to the Spurs and next faces the Rockets, Lakers, Suns and Bucks, and analysts note a short layoff would not jeopardize his MVP eligibility under the 65-game rule.