The Oklahoma City Thunder will rest three of their starting players, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, in the upcoming game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The Oklahoma City Thunder will be resting three of their starters for the upcoming game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, including MVP contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Jalen Williams and Lu Dort will also be unavailable due to hip injuries, while Isaiah Hartenstein (back) and Cason Wallace (shoulder) are listed as questionable.

Dort was absent during Sunday's victory over the Bucks, and Williams has been sidelined since sustaining his hip injury in a win against the Nuggets on March 10. Earlier this month, the Thunder rested their entire starting lineup for a game against the Portland Trail Blazers, which prompted an investigation by the NBA for a possible breach of the league's player participation policy, according to sources cited by ESPN's Shams Charania.

This will mark only the third game that Gilgeous-Alexander has missed this season, having already surpassed the 65-game requirement to qualify for MVP consideration. The matchup against the 76ers carries additional significance, as the Thunder hold Philadelphia's 2025 first-round draft pick, contingent on it not falling within the top six selections. The Sixers entered Tuesday night’s games tied with the Raptors and Nets for the fifth-worst record in the league.

In contrast, the Thunder maintain a commanding lead of over 12 games for the top seed in the Western Conference and are just half a game behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for the best overall record in the league.