Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren is expected to miss 8-10 weeks due to a right iliac wing fracture sustained during a game against the Golden State Warriors. Holmgren, who was the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft and missed his rookie season due to a foot injury, has been a key player for the Thunder, averaging 18.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. The Thunder, who are dealing with multiple injuries in their frontcourt, will rely on smaller lineups until Holmgren and other injured players return.
St. Louis Blues are expected to make one change to their forward lines for the game against the San Jose Sharks, with Nathan Walker slotting into the center spot on the fourth line and Sammy Blais re-entering the lineup. Head Coach Drew Bannister emphasized the need to secure points as the team aims to close the gap in the Western Conference Wild Card race. Joel Hofer is expected to start in net for the Blues, who are focused on being the better team from start to finish in the upcoming game.
The dominance of NBA stars LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant in the Western Conference is waning as younger teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder, led by rising talents such as Anthony Edwards and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are taking the lead. Despite the veterans' continued strong performances and health this season, their teams are struggling to secure top spots, signaling a shift in the league's hierarchy and the natural progression of new talent taking the spotlight.
