Stiles Points: OKC Thunder Have A Lot to Juggle For the Next Eight Games

Between standings, health and awards, the OKC Thunder have a lot to juggle in their final eight games of the regular season.

Mar 31, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) / John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

The Oklahoma City Thunder (52-22) are in the midst of another eye-popping season, after finishing two games below .500 a year ago and sneaking into the Play-in tournament when everyone projected them to be in the heat of the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes.

This season, while some expected improvement, the outlook of a rugged Western Conference left many pegging the Thunder for yet another play-in appearance. After all, this team is just two years removed from a 24-win season and four from a total tear-down rebuild.

Instead, the Oklahoma City Thunder have rattled off 52 wins with eight games to play putting them in a heated battle for the top seed in the Western Conference. A single game separates them from the top spot and the third seed.

Now, the Thunder have put themselves in a precarious situation. Superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came up lame with a quad injury against the Utah Jazz back on March 20, something he has been nursing ever since even missing two of the last three contests for Oklahoma City.

Even when Gilgeous-Alexander returned to the hardwood on Sunday, he did not look like himself for the majority of the game. That is until he sunk the game-winner with less than two ticks remaining.

Not only are the Thunder in a heated standings chase, but Gilgeous-Alexander is still battling for the league's Most Valuable Player Award and getting this young Thunder team to the first seed in the West when the dust settles would give him a more than compelling case.

Then you have the case of rising star Jalen Williams who once again pops on the injury report due to an ankle that has been barking all season long. The Thunder's second go-to scorer and versatile defensive weapon plays a massive role in the team's success.

So in the final eight games, which feature no more than one day off between games and two back-to-back sets, the Thunder have a lot to balance. Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP candidacy, the team's playoff seeding and the long-term health of high-usage players.

At the end of the day, no matter what seed you capture or playoff matchup you are faced with, none of it matters for Oklahoma City if Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams are not as close to 100 percent as possible.

So as each game grows in importance and people freak out with each standings shuffle, the Thunder's most proverbial important ball in the air is the health of their stars. Even if that means resting the duo against the 76ers as each player is currently tabbed as questionable.

Stiles Points

• The Oklahoma City Blue will take on the Rio Grande Valley Vipers inside the Paycom Center on Tuesday to tip off the NBA G League playoffs. The structure will be a single elimination tournament until the G League Championship where it is a best-of-three format. This contest will be broadcast live on Tubi TV for Free.
• Should the Blue win they would advance to play the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Friday on Tubi TV in Sioux Falls.
• Joel Embiid (knee) is nearing a return with some reporting that Tuesday against the OKC Thunder is within the realm of possibility. However, the 76ers big man was tabbed as out on the initial injury report for Tuesday's matchup. These reports are updated hourly and are subject to change.
• The Thunder still have a half-game cushion on the Nuggets and a full-game lead on the Timberwolves heading into Tuesday night. While the Thunder tango with the 76ers, Minnesota hosts Houston and Denver welcomes San Antonio. Oklahoma City is hoping for a Texas two-step and a win in the city of brotherly love.

Song of the Day: Streets of Philadelphia by Bruce Springsteen

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