OKLAHOMA CITY –<\/p>\n
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is off the injury report and set to return to the lineup for the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night against the Denver Nuggets.<\/p>\n
The reigning MVP has missed the past nine games with an abdominal strain and last played in the Thunder\u2019s win over the Orlando Magic on Feb. 3. He was not listed on the NBA\u2019s latest injury<\/a> report on Thursday. <\/p>\n Gilgeous-Alexander also missed NBA All-Star Weekend activities in Los Angeles while recovering.<\/p>\n Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell remain out, along with Branden Carlson, who left early with a lower back strain during Wednesday\u2019s 124-116 loss to the Detroit Pistons.<\/p>\n Isaiah Joe and Jaylin Williams, who were also sidelined Wednesday, are expected to return. Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein will also play.<\/p>\n Friday\u2019s matchup against Denver tips off at 8:30 p.m. in Oklahoma City and will be nationally televised on ESPN. It marks the second meeting between the two teams this season. OKC won 121-111 in Denver on Feb. 1.<\/p>\n The game also features the two leading MVP candidates in Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver\u2019s Nikola Jokic.<\/p>\n Both players are approaching the NBA\u2019s 65-game minimum to qualify for postseason awards. Gilgeous-Alexander has missed 11 games and can miss six more before becoming ineligible. Jokic would be ineligible if he misses another game this season.<\/p>\n