168 NBA Players Out Friday Night, and the Casualty List Keeps Growing

Friday night was supposed to be a showcase. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, was set to face Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokic, a three-time MVP winner. Instead, both sat out. And they weren't even close to being alone.

No fewer than 168 players across the entire NBA were held out Friday night due to injuries or illnesses. The Memphis Grizzlies alone had 14 players unavailable. Every team in the league was playing game 81, the second-to-last game of the regular season, and the injury list was staggering.

Thunder Already Locked In, So Rest Becomes the Priority

Oklahoma City's decision to sit out Gilgeous-Alexander and all their other regular starters makes sense when you look at the bigger picture. The Thunder have already wrapped up the No. 1 seed for the entire postseason. They've earned it through 80 games, and now it's about managing bodies down the stretch.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was direct about it: "If we didn't clinch [the No. 1 overall seed] coming into tonight, everybody would be playing. We've earned the right through 80 games to manage their bodies and stuff like that."

Denver's Situation Is Different, Especially for Jokic

The Nuggets entered Friday with seeding still to play for. And in Jokic's case, there's another layer: he needs to play in one more game to stay eligible for MVP, All-NBA, and other postseason awards. It's almost certain he'll suit up Sunday to close out the regular season and get on those ballots.

Nuggets coach David Adelman acknowledged the reality: "We're all aware of that."

San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama found a creative solution to the eligibility puzzle. He needed 20 minutes to reach the 65-game standard for postseason award eligibility. The Spurs pulled him after exactly 20 minutes, but then sent him back in. He finished with 40 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in 26 minutes. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson explained the move: "We need as much on-the-job training, on-the-court experience together as we can. That's what we're trying to do without overdoing it."

All teams have Saturday off before the regular season closes Sunday. Expect to see a lot of lineup adjustments when things wrap up.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.