Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sat out the NBA All-Star break with an abdominal injury

Oklahoma City Thunder MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander suffered a stomach strain during Tuesday night’s 128-92 win over the Orlando Magic and will be sidelined during the All-Star break, the team announced Wednesday afternoon.

Gilgeous-Alexander played a total of 28 minutes against the Magic, recording 20 points and nine assists in the win. He was able to extend his streak of consecutive 20-point games to 121 games, putting him just five games away from Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time record of 126 consecutive games scored at least 20 points.

It’s another significant injury the defending NBA champions will have to deal with heading into the All-Star break, as star forward Jaylen Williams missed eight straight games with a hamstring injury. There is currently no timetable for Williams’ return to action, but he will also be sidelined during the All-Star break.

While the news isn’t ideal for the Thunder, who have the NBA’s best record at 40-11 overall, CEO Sam Presti and his front office immediately improved their secondary depth for trading for Jared McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers.

McCain, who was the favorite to win the 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year Award before suffering a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee, was traded by the 76ers to the Thunder on Wednesday afternoon for one first-round pick and three second-round picks.

The Sixers will receive the Houston Rockets’ 2026 first-round pick from the Thunder, as well as two 2028 second-round picks from the Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City. A 2027 second-round pick going to Philadelphia will be the most favorable of Oklahoma City, Houston, Indiana and Miami, league sources told ClutchPoints.

As a result of the trade for McCain, the Thunder are here advanced discussions with the Charlotte Hornets trading former first-round pick Usman Dieng for Mason Plumlee, as ClutchPoints first reported. The specifics of this craft are still being worked out.

With Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams out, McCain will immediately step into a key role alongside Chet Holmgren, Lugentz Dort and other supporting players in the Thunder’s starting lineup.

In 49 games, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.8 points, 6.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting 55.4 percent from the floor. He is currently the favorite to win the NBA MVP award for the 2025-26 season.