Gilgeous-Alexander and the MVP Law
A tense battle swings on a final possession as Oklahoma City edges Golden State, with one superstar once again writing the last line.
The NBA landscape continues settling back into its most predictable shape, little by little. After several weeks filled with injuries and defeats, the Oklahoma City Thunder – still missing several players – have rediscovered their rhythm. The turning point has been the return of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who came back from abdominal issues. Since his return: five games, five wins.
Coincidence? Hardly. And with the Detroit Pistons stumbling slightly in the Eastern Conference, Oklahoma City has reclaimed its place as the league’s best team, becoming the first to reach 50 victories (50–15). Their latest came after surviving the bite of a fiercely competitive Golden State Warriors squad that fell just short of completing a comeback.
A tense game decided in the final minute
It was an emotional, hard-fought contest – a battle of willpower to see which team could overcome its problems more effectively. After the Thunder built a 14-point lead, the Warriors answered with determination, tying the game at 77–77 in the third quarter. From there, the outcome hung by a thread.
With the score at 99–97 and less than a minute remaining, the moment inevitably arrived for the game’s central figure. Gilgeous-Alexander – already one of the NBA’s most formidable offensive weapons of recent years – waved off a screen from Isaiah Joe and chose to attack Draymond Green one-on-one, facing one of the greatest defenders in league history.
A signature shot from one of the NBA’s most lethal scorers
After pausing with the ball between his legs, the Canadian guard took a dribble, stepped slightly to his right, and drilled the three-pointer that finally broke the Warriors’ resistance, pushing the score to 102–97.
Golden State at least left a message of resilience. That counts for something in a season where the team is firmly locked into the play-in picture (now 32–31) while still waiting on the status of Stephen Curry’s knee – the superstar has missed the last 13 games.
Beyond Curry’s absence – and that of Jimmy Butler – the Warriors were also without De’Anthony Melton and Moses Moody. Given those circumstances, they will likely be satisfied with the competitiveness they showed in the second half. They won the turnover battle, grabbed 15 offensive rebounds – seven from Gary Payton II – and recorded 28 assists against one of the league’s most disruptive defenses.
Golden State even received interior support from Kristaps Porzingis, who wore a Warriors jersey for the second time, albeit with a 23-minute restriction and a likely absence in Salt Lake City tomorrow. Gui Santos delivered 22 points and 11 rebounds, Brandin Podziemski added 17 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Draymond Green led the charge with 16 points, four rebounds and five assists while hitting four of six three-pointers.
Missed opportunities and a short-handed Thunder frontcourt
Despite that effort, the Warriors missed too many free throws – 11 of 18 compared with Oklahoma City’s near-perfect 23 of 24 – in a game decided by the smallest margins.
They also failed to capitalize on the Thunder’s own wave of injuries, particularly in the frontcourt. Isaiah Hartenstein and Branden Carlson were already sidelined, and Chet Holmgren was ruled out late with a fever. Alex Caruso was also unavailable again, and Jalen Williams remains out.
From one perspective, Golden State can feel encouraged by how it competed. From another, it might regret a missed opportunity.
Gilgeous-Alexander keeps building his MVP case
Gilgeous-Alexander carried Oklahoma City regardless. Beyond the decisive three, he finished with 27 points and five assists on an off shooting night (6-for-15), making up for it at the free-throw line with a superb 14-for-15.
With that stat line – and amid ongoing debates about his frequent trips to the line – Steve Kerr addressed the topic after the game.
“Shai is very smart. He knows exactly how to draw contact, and he does it within the rules,” Kerr said. “So I don’t have a problem with Shai – I have a problem with the rules.”
The Canadian guard also reached another milestone: his 125th consecutive game with at least 20 points. He now sits just one game away from matching a record long thought untouchable by Wilt Chamberlain.
He may tie it tomorrow at home in a marquee Western Conference showdown against the Denver Nuggets.
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5
Luguentz Dort
|
|
22
Cason Wallace
|
|
6
Jaylin Williams
|
|
2
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
|
|
11
Isaiah Joe
|
|
23
Brooks Barnhizer
|
|
3
Jared McCain
|
|
14
Payton Sandfort
|
|
44
Nikola Topić
|
|
21
Aaron Wiggins
|
|
34
Kenrich Williams
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| Min | Pts | TR | OR | DR | Ast | Los | Rec | Blk | S1 | S2 | S3 | RF | CF | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5
Luguentz Dort
|
33 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 1/3 | 2/7 | 0 | 1 | |
|
22
Cason Wallace
|
31 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0/0 | 3/5 | 1/3 | 0 | 2 | |
|
6
Jaylin Williams
|
33 | 9 | 14 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/1 | 3/6 | 0 | 3 | |
|
2
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
|
35 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 14/15 | 5/11 | 1/4 | 0 | 1 | |
|
11
Isaiah Joe
|
34 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6/6 | 3/5 | 2/7 | 0 | 4 | |
|
23
Brooks Barnhizer
|
11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
3
Jared McCain
|
12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/1 | 3/6 | 0 | 3 | |
|
14
Payton Sandfort
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
44
Nikola Topić
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
21
Aaron Wiggins
|
28 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2/2 | 2/4 | 1/5 | 0 | 2 | |
|
34
Kenrich Williams
|
19 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1/1 | 3/5 | 2/4 | 0 | 2 | |
|
23
Draymond Green
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|
15
Gui Santos
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20
Al Horford
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|
2
Brandin Podziemski
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|
61
Pat Spencer
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|
18
L.J. Cryer
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|
33
Malevy Leons
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0
Gary Payton II
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|
7
Kristaps Porzingis
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|
21
Quinten Post
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|
19
Nate Williams
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| Min | Pts | TR | OR | DR | Ast | Los | Rec | Blk | S1 | S2 | S3 | RF | CF | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
23
Draymond Green
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32 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0/0 | 2/4 | 4/6 | 0 | 2 | |
|
15
Gui Santos
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37 | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4/6 | 6/10 | 2/9 | 0 | 2 | |
|
20
Al Horford
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28 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0/0 | 2/3 | 0/3 | 0 | 1 | |
|
2
Brandin Podziemski
|
39 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2/2 | 3/7 | 3/10 | 0 | 1 | |
|
61
Pat Spencer
|
25 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 3/4 | 1/2 | 0 | 2 | |
|
18
L.J. Cryer
|
17 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 2/4 | 0 | 2 | |
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33
Malevy Leons
|
6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 1/2 | 0 | 0 | |
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0
Gary Payton II
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22 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0/2 | 2/4 | 1/4 | 0 | 2 | |
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7
Kristaps Porzingis
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22 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3/6 | 3/7 | 0/3 | 0 | 4 | |
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21
Quinten Post
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | |
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19
Nate Williams
|
8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2/2 | 1/4 | 0/2 | 0 | 2 | |
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