The Oklahoma City Thunder lost to the Dallas Mavericks 117-116. The close defeat left Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander taking the blame due to his late-game foul on P.J. Washington.
Gilgeous-Alexander had a stellar performance, scoring 36 points. It was the highest score in the game. Meanwhile, it seemed like a great day for him until his foul allowed the Mavericks to go up by one with 2.1 seconds left.
After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander showed his humble nature by accepting responsibility in the post-game press conference.
“It sucks. Obviously, if I had the moment back, I wouldn’t have fouled him. I’d just let him make or miss the shot,” he said.
The 25-year-old star also mentioned that he doesn’t want to review the play. While some fans and analysts viewed the call as controversial, Gilgeous-Alexander believes the officials made the right decision.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shines in Thunder’s Playoff Run
Though the Oklahoma City Thunder couldn’t secure a win, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered an outstanding performance. During the 2024 playoff run, he averaged 30.2 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.4 rebounds.
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With these numbers, the former Kentucky Wildcats star achieved a milestone. The young star joined the ranks of Michael Jordan as one of the few guards in NBA history to average more than 30 points per game and more than 2 blocks per game in a playoff series. Additionally, his two blocks were the most by a point guard in a playoff series.
Despite the loss, the Thunder had a successful season. They finished with the best record in the Western Conference and secured the No. 1 seed as the second-youngest team. They have proven themselves formidable contenders with a pool of MVP-level players by making it to the conference semifinals.
With Gilgeous-Alexander’s stellar play, it’s clear that the future looks bright for him and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Also read: All 30 NBA Teams’ Point Guard Mount Rushmore: Which 4 Players Made It For Your Team?
