From MVP to a shadow of himself, Shai: “I need to be better”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received his second straight MVP award, then struggled on the floor against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in Game 1
The night was supposed to be the perfect celebration for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. His second consecutive MVP trophy presented in front of the Oklahoma City crowd, a playoff atmosphere at the Paycom Center, and the opening game of the Western Conference Finals on his home floor.
Instead, by the end of the night, it was the San Antonio Spurs celebrating after pulling off a stunning 122-115 double-overtime victory.
And the first person to take responsibility was SGA himself.
We have to be better, starting with me. Against a team at this level, I need to do more
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The numbers explain his self-criticism well: 24 points and 12 assists in 51 minutes, but on a rough 7-for-23 shooting night with four turnovers. Numbers far below the unreal standard he set throughout the season.
Spurs defense took Gilgeous-Alexander out of rhythm
San Antonio’s game plan was obvious from the opening possession: make life difficult for Shai. Constant double-teams, heavy ball pressure, and above all, the massive presence of Victor Wembanyama protecting the rim.
The French star completely changed the way the Thunder attacked. Even without piling up blocks, his presence closed driving lanes and created hesitation for anyone attempting to get to the basket.
SGA explained it clearly after the game:
It’s difficult playing against him. He’s so tall, so long, and he changes so many things around the basket. You have to be smart attacking the paint, be patient but also aggressive. If you start thinking too much about it, you lose confidence in your game
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
For long stretches, OKC’s offense looked stuck. Gilgeous-Alexander frequently initiated from straight-on isolation sets, allowing the Spurs defense to collapse on him with ease. Before the late fourth-quarter stretch, he had made only 3 of his first 14 shot attempts.
Flashes of the real Shai
Even so, SGA still looked capable of flipping the game late. During the fourth quarter he finally found his aggression again, attacking the rim decisively and creating opportunities for teammates.
First came a layup through traffic, then the game-tying basket with three seconds remaining after taking advantage of Wembanyama’s attention toward Chet Holmgren in the corner.
He also gave the Thunder the lead in the first overtime with a driving dunk. But every time, San Antonio had an answer – especially with a cold-blooded Wembanyama knocking down shots from deep.
From that point on, the two-time MVP didn’t make another basket.
Despite the difficult night, Gilgeous-Alexander never lost his composure. No complaints, no excuses. Just the understanding that the Thunder will need a different version of their leader if they’re going to even the series.
Sometimes you’re the best version of yourself, sometimes you’re not. You just have to keep moving forward without losing confidence
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Mark Daigneault: “We’ll find solutions”
Head coach Mark Daigneault also acknowledged the team’s offensive struggles while maintaining confidence in his group.
We’re going to have to find solutions. They’re really strong tactically and they have incredible defensive tools with their perimeter defenders and with Wembanyama. But we’re here for a reason too. One thing I love about this team is our ability to solve problems
Mark Daigneault
Game 2 is already around the corner. The Thunder need answers – and quickly.