Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the battle of the MVPs against Nikola Jokic. This year’s uncrowned MVP and his team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, just capped off a grueling 7-game series against the Denver Nuggets with a 32-point blowout victory. But they’re not off the hook yet.

Now, SGA and his team must face another tough team the Minnesota Timberwolves. With back-to-back series victories against LeBron James’ Lakers and Steph Curry’s Warriors, it’s safe to say the T-Wolves have all the momentum in the world. This series is poised to be an intriguing one. But will injuries dampen things as we approach tipoff? Let’s see what the Thunder’s injury report says about that.

Oklahoma City Thunder Injury Report – Will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander play tonight?

The Thunder’s Canadian superstar played an incredible series against the Denver Nuggets. SGA averaged 29.7 points a game, including 35 in Game 7 to ensure his team reached the Western Conference Finals this season. Safe to say that the Thunder won’t be the same team without Shai playing.

So, it’s a relief for the fans that he isn’t on their latest injury report. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is AVAILABLE to play in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Timberwolves. But that doesn’t mean everything is fine and dandy.

Nikola Topic, the Thunder’s rookie playmaker, is OUT for the first game of the Conference Finals. He will remain on the sidelines for the foreseeable future after partially tearing his ACL before the Thunder picked him 12th in the 2024 NBA Draft.

But Topic is the only player on the Thunder’s injury report. And this bodes well for them heading into this series against the Timberwolves. But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and co have an opportunity this year to make history for Oklahoma by bringing them their first-ever NBA title. Something even the trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook couldn’t do. But there’s an even more pressing question that needs to be tackled before!

Can the OKC Thunder topple the Minnesota Timberwolves?

Yes, the Oklahoma City Thunder have what it takes to tame the Timberwolves. They’re young, hungry, and coming off a huge Game 7 blowout win over the Joker and his team. That kind of momentum can’t be overstated, especially heading into a series opener at home. Sure, they’re on short rest—but this team has thrived under pressure all postseason, even with tight turnarounds and shifting matchups.

Defense is where OKC hangs its hat, much like their upcoming opponents. They’ve allowed the fewest points per 100 possessions this postseason—just 101.6. Now that’s elite. They rotate fast, protect the paint, and make every possession a grind for their opponents. Put simply, Minnesota’s offense will have to earn everything. If the Thunder force turnovers and keep the tempo up, they can pull the Wolves out of their comfort zone quickly.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is locked in and leading like a vet. Even with the emotional twist of facing his cousin, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Shai isn’t backing down. “I’m trying to take his head off for sure,” he said with a grin. That kind of intensity sets the tone. When your best player is all-in, it spreads across the whole roster.

The regular-season series was split, and both teams have grown since. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault put it best: “It’ll be different.” If OKC leans into their defensive identity, plays fast, and lets their youth fuel them, not shake them, they’ve got everything it takes to win this series and head to the Finals. But we’ll only find out whether they can get it done, come game time!