The Oklahoma City Thunder will be without three of their starters when they face the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. Notably, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the team's MVP-favorite, will miss his third game of the season. Gilgeous-Alexander's absence is attributed to rest, as he has already surpassed the 65-game threshold required for MVP eligibility. His absence adds an element of intrigue to the upcoming matchup.
In addition to Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder will be missing Jalen Williams and Lu Dort. Williams has been sidelined since sustaining a hip injury during a victory over the Denver Nuggets on March 10. Similarly, Lu Dort, who missed Sunday's win against the Milwaukee Bucks, continues to recover from a hip issue. The team has been managing injuries while balancing player participation, a matter that recently caught the attention of the NBA.
Earlier this month, the Thunder's decision to rest their entire starting lineup against the Portland Trail Blazers prompted an NBA investigation into potential violations of the league's player participation policy. While Gilgeous-Alexander has been rested in previous games, his role as a key player for the Thunder makes each absence noteworthy.
Adding to the uncertainty, Isaiah Hartenstein and Cason Wallace are both listed as questionable for the game. Hartenstein is dealing with a back injury, while Wallace is recovering from a shoulder injury. Their potential absence could further impact the team's performance against the 76ers.
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