Thunder's Mark Daigneault explains why SGA sat out of OT in Nuggets loss

Thunder head coach discusses decision to limit Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's minutes in close game

Feb. 28, 2026 at 7:49am

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Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault explained his decision to sit All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the overtime period of Friday's 127-121 win over the Denver Nuggets. Daigneault said they had pre-determined a minutes restriction for Gilgeous-Alexander, who was returning from a 24-day injury absence, and stuck to that plan despite the close game situation.

Why it matters

Daigneault's decision to sit Gilgeous-Alexander, the team's leading scorer, in a tight overtime game raised eyebrows, but the coach prioritized the player's long-term health over short-term results. This highlights the challenges teams face in managing star players' minutes, especially when returning from injury.

The details

Gilgeous-Alexander played just under 34 minutes in regulation, dominating with 36 points, 9 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals to lead a 16-point Thunder comeback. However, Daigneault said they had discussed a minutes restriction with Gilgeous-Alexander and fellow injured starter Isaiah Hartenstein before the game, and they stuck to that plan by subbing them out at the start of overtime.

  • Gilgeous-Alexander missed the previous 9 games due to an abdominal injury.
  • The Thunder and Nuggets were playing a Western Conference semifinal rematch on February 28, 2026.

The players

Mark Daigneault

The head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Thunder's All-Star guard who was returning from a 24-day injury absence.

Isaiah Hartenstein

The Thunder's starting center who was also under a minutes restriction after returning from a calf strain.

Nikola Jokic

The Denver Nuggets' All-Star center and MVP candidate.

Jaylin Williams

The Thunder center who was involved in a physical altercation with Jokic.

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What they’re saying

“He's coming off a 24-day injury. There's a return to play. One of the conditions of getting him on the court tonight is holding him at a certain point, minutes-wise.”

— Mark Daigneault, Head Coach, Oklahoma City Thunder (clutchpoints.com)

“We actually discussed that situation with both him and [Hartenstein] before the game. Just so we're all clear in a non-emotional moment, that if we were in that situation, that's what we would do.”

— Mark Daigneault, Head Coach, Oklahoma City Thunder (clutchpoints.com)

“Unbelievable effort by the guys that were out there. The rest of the team didn't know we had that conversation. We just subbed the MVP and our starter at the beginning of overtime, and they attacked that game. They deserve a lot of credit for that.”

— Mark Daigneault, Head Coach, Oklahoma City Thunder (clutchpoints.com)

What’s next

The Thunder will continue to monitor Gilgeous-Alexander's minutes as he fully recovers from his injury, balancing his health with the team's need for his production on the court.

The takeaway

Daigneault's decision to sit Gilgeous-Alexander in overtime, despite his dominant performance, highlights the challenges coaches face in managing star players' minutes, especially when returning from injury. The Thunder prioritized Gilgeous-Alexander's long-term health over short-term results, a tough but necessary call that paid off with a win.