Shai struggles again as OKC collapses: “This isn’t the time to change”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s rough stretch continued in Game 6, as he never truly found a rhythm. Poor shooting percentages and limited impact in the biggest moments of the game left the Thunder searching for answers
The night that was supposed to send the Oklahoma City Thunder back to the NBA Finals instead turned into a major setback. The San Antonio Spurs dominated Game 6 with a convincing 118-91 victory, evening the series and forcing a decisive Game 7.
For Oklahoma City, however, the biggest concern wasn’t just the loss. The focus shifted to the limited return of Jalen Williams and another difficult outing from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Jalen Williams returns but makes little impact
Williams’ return was one of the most anticipated storylines heading into Game 6. After missing the previous three games with a strained left hamstring, he was cleared to play shortly before tipoff.
His impact, however, was minimal: just 1 point in 10 minutes, while his minus-18 plus-minus reflected the struggles of the night. He appeared far from full strength, lacking his usual explosiveness and mobility.
Williams also declined to speak with the media after the game, leaving the arena without comment.
Head coach Mark Daigneault defended the decision to play him:
It’s obvious he’s not 100 percent. We didn’t know what to expect, and neither did he. We tried to ease him into a controlled role and see what he could give us. He’s an All-Star, an All-NBA player, but he didn’t have the kind of full ramp-up process you’d normally get during the regular season. He simply tried to give us what he could
Mark Daigneault
He added:
He did the best he could. He’s certainly not the reason we lost
Mark Daigneault
Gilgeous-Alexander continues to struggle
It was another frustrating night for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who once again found himself contained by the Spurs’ defense, led by Victor Wembanyama.
The former Clipper finished with 15 points on 6-for-18 shooting and posted a staggering -28 plus-minus, one of the worst marks ever recorded by an MVP in a pivotal playoff game.
It marked his 4th consecutive game shooting below 40% from the field, a significant departure from the standards that have made him a perennial 30-point-per-game scorer over the past several seasons.
His comments after the game reflected his mindset heading into Game 7:
A lot of the shots I’m taking are shots I’ve made a thousand times. They feel like good looks. They’re just not going in. But this isn’t the time to change everything. I have to keep trusting my work and trusting my game. At this stage of the season, you live or die with that
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Now the series shifts back to the Paycom Center for a winner-take-all Game 7. The Thunder enter with more questions than answers: Williams’ health, Gilgeous-Alexander’s shooting slump, and a team that has lost its sharpness at the most critical moment of the season.