Thunder Coach Mark Daigneault Clarifies Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Pre-Planned Overtime Absence in Intense Nuggets Matchup
Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault confirmed that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s absence in overtime against the Denver Nuggets was a pre-planned decision due to a minutes restriction, part of his return from a 24-day abdominal injury. Despite the All-Star’s stellar 36-point performance, prioritizing player health led to the unorthodox choice, which the team embraced with an “unbelievable effort.” The game also saw significant drama with Lu Dort’s flagrant-2 foul on Nikola Jokic, leading to an ejection and a scuffle.