The Oklahoma City Thunder have advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since the days of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stepping into the spotlight.
Though he appeared composed, SGA experienced moments of unease during his team’s commanding Game 7 victory, which ended with a score of 125-93.
“I was nervous, to be honest,” Gilgeous-Alexander remarked. “Just understanding what was at stake. …To realize that if you don’t bring your A-game, it could all be over. But I think that nervousness motivated me.”
SGA led the game with 35 points, although Oklahoma struggled in the early stages.
The turning point came in the second quarter when the Thunder launched an 18-5 run during the last 3:11 of the half, establishing a 60-46 lead.
“I think the nerves were natural,” Gilgeous-Alexander noted. “We actually shot poorly at the start. But I knew we were getting great opportunities, and if we just kept at it, we would loosen up and find our rhythm.”
“I was never concerned about the tough start. Once I felt the rhythm of the game and we had the right mindset and energy, I knew it would change.”
Alex Caruso played a pivotal role for the Thunder, effectively neutralizing Nikola Jokic with his tight defense and generally disrupting the star center’s rhythm.
Caruso faced Jokic in 40 half-court encounters during Game 7, marking the highest number of matchups for any guard against Jokic in his career, according to Genius IQ.
“It’s a lot of hard work,” Caruso explained. “He’s obviously an outstanding player. His achievements speak volumes, but he’s a tough matchup because he does so many different things to get others involved and impact the game.”
Image Source: Gilgeous-Alexander @ Instagram
