Thunder Face 76ers Without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Three Other Starters

The Thunder, leading the Western Conference and under NBA investigation, rest their MVP frontrunner in a game with playoff and draft implications.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder's MVP candidate, is sitting out the game against the 76ers for rest purposes and is not injured.
Three other starters, including Jalen Williams and Lu Dort, are also unavailable due to injuries, leaving the Thunder's depth under scrutiny.
The NBA is investigating the Thunder for potential violations of its player participation policy after resting their entire starting lineup earlier this month.
The Thunder control the 76ers' 2025 first-round draft pick if it falls outside the top six, adding strategic interest to the matchup.
Oklahoma City holds a commanding lead in the Western Conference and is competing with the Cavaliers for the league's best record.