Thunder Game Day: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Set For First All-Star Start
The Oklahoma City Thunder might not have a game, but their biggest star will be on full display.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will make his second All-Star Game Appearance and start in the game for the first time. As the fourth Thunder player to start the game, Gilgeous-Alexander will have an opportunity to add another chapter to his MVP campaign.
The game and weekend will also be an opportunity for Gilgeous-Alexander to be around and play with some of the best players in the league. The game might not showcase the most competitive basketball, but it will be filled with highlights.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
ODDS:
The West enters the day as 2.5-point favorites against the East, and the total over/under is 363.5 points. Gilgeous-Alexander is +1500 to win All-Star Game MVP.
KEYS TO THE GAME:
Technically, every game is determined by which team scores more, but that holds especially true in the All-Star Game. The winning team in the All-Star Game has scored at least 150 points in nine of the past 10 matchups, with Team LeBron’s 148 points in 2018 as the lone exception.
After six years of captains drafting the All-Star teams, the NBA has returned to the original East-West format. This means the teams are already known, giving a chance to get at least some chemistry before stepping on the floor on Sunday.
Oklahoma City has had at least one All-Star in 12 of the team’s first 15 seasons. Only five of those 12 games have been hosted by an Eastern Conference team. In those five games, three have ended with a Thunder player winning All-Star MVP.
Kevin Durant won in Orlando in 2012, followed by Russell Westbrook in New York and Toronto in 2015 and 2016. With this year’s game in Indianapolis, Gilgeous-Alexander will have an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of two Thunder legends.
INJURIES:
Check out our live injury tracker, along with our game day injury report that will release later today.
WHEN:
Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at 7 p.m. CT
LOCATION:
Gainbridge Fieldhouse - Indianapolis, IN
TV/RADIO:
TNT, TBS, NBA League Pass, 98.1 FM The Sports Animal
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start Your Free Trial)
FINAL WORD:
The Thunder’s superstar will have one of his best opportunities to perform on a national stage. Although the All-Star Game is unimportant in the big picture, the break is an important time to help the Thunder get prepared for the rest of the season.
The Thunder will come out of the All-Star break with a back-to-back beginning with the LA Clippers at home on Thursday.
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