Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Feels '100 Percent' For First Time Since March 20
The Oklahoma City Thunder saw Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominate on Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings and the superstar offered a status update on his quad injury in his postgame press conference.
The Oklahoma City Thunder (54-23) earned a massive win over the Sacramento Kings rallying from a 20-point deficit to down their Western Conference foes by seven thanks to the return of superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
After missing six of the last seven games, Gilgeous-Alexander returned in rockstar fashion as the fans rained M-V-P chants down on him en route to 40 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and as many blocks while shooting 52 percent from the floor and going 2-for-3 beyond the arc.
This was the first time since suffering that quad contusion on March 20 against the Utah Jazz that Gilgeous-Alexander has looked to be in MVP form. Despite giving it a go in New York --and hitting the game-winner in Madison Square Garden -- he was clearly laboring around the floor which led to Oklahoma City sending him home from the road trip early.
That was a decision that was made to benefit the Thunder star in his rehab process. Not only could he get more on-court time in OKC's home facilities with their staff, but cutting down on flights and altitude changes helped mend the quad according to Gilgeous-Alexander.
Following his MVP showing against Sacramento, Gilgeous-Alexander said he felt "100 percent" though he admitted he was playing through injury at first. "I wasn't 100 percent from March 20 til now," the superstar explained.
The box score and the way he moved on the court certainly align with that revelation and is the reason why the Thunder rested their star for over a week. This team is nowhere close to their ceiling as contenders without a fully healthy superstar. The price of three games is a bargain for the benefit of Gilgeous-Alexander's health.
Up next, the Oklahoma City Thunder battle the San Antonio Spurs with both teams on the second night of a back-to-back inside the Paycom center.
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