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LOS ANGELES — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn't just hit the hardwood floor inside Crypto.com Arena.
He went sliding across it after sinking an and-one jumper over Marcus Smart, who'd been defending the reigning MVP so tightly all series that he didn't even give him space to land. And yet he didn't stay down for the count.
Gilgeous-Alexander quickly sat up straight like The Undertaker. A supernatural superstar with an undying determination to deliver for his team, no matter how much the Lakers tried to contain him. A composed competitor who showed what he can do, all while not showing emotion.
The OKC Thunder completed its second-round sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers with a 115-110 road win Monday night. And after scoring fewer than 25 points in three straight games for the first time since 2024, Gilgeous-Alexander erupted for 35 points on 11-for-22 shooting from the field to go along with eight assists.
"I've noticed throughout my career, through personal experiences, that emotions only get in the way of critical and smart thinking," Gilgeous-Alexander said of his composure. "Especially in those moments, when I want to get the job done the most, I try to put my emotions aside and stay locked in on what's present and what matters most."
More: Who will OKC Thunder play next in NBA Playoffs? See updated bracket
More: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder fight off LeBron James, Lakers for sweep in NBA Playoffs
Gilgeous-Alexander never wrestled with his emotions during the Thunder's sweep. Not even when the Lakers tried to frustrate him during the first two games with constant double-teams, which led to him averaging just 20 points on 14 shot attempts.
He knew the downpour of defenders would create a trickle-down effect.
Gilgeous-Alexander knew the extra attention he received would draw Los Angeles away from the rim, where OKC converted its 18 total offensive boards into an average of 38 second-chance points. He knew it'd place his teammates at advantages, which they capitalized on by shooting 52.2% from the field and 41.9% from deep.
And he knew that defensive strategy would burn a lot of energy, which likely played a role in the second-half fatigue the Lakers showed. The Thunder outscored them by a combined 29 points during the third and fourth quarters.
Gilgeous-Alexander's effectiveness under pressure eventually forced Los Angeles to dial back the double-teams during Game 3. That then set the stage for his scoring resurgence during Monday's Game 4, where he frequently reached his spots in single coverage and did damage.
"They reeled back the double teams, he kind of hid in the grass and then tonight he went and closed that thing," Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said of Gilgeous-Alexander. "Remarkable poise and maturity by him. ... Impact takes on different faces, but his impact was all four games."
Game 4 grades: Ajay Mitchell amazes again for Thunder in NBA playoff closeout of Lakers
Of course, it's easy to not be weighed down by the pressure when your teammates lift you up. And that's what OKC's supporting cast did during the first three games to give Gilgeous-Alexander the luxury of not having to force things.
Chet Holmgren flexed his strength with physical finishes around the rim. Ajay Mitchell shined in the absence of the injured Jalen Williams (left hamstring strain) as a strong shot creator. And bench players such as Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, Jared McCain and Isaiah Joe helped OKC consistently win non-Gilgeous-Alexander minutes.
"Hats off to my teammates," Gilgeous-Alexander. "Obviously, their goal was to make my teammates beat them in the first three games, and my teammates did exactly that. So yeah, hats off to them."
But Game 4 belonged to Gilgeous-Alexander, to no surprise. As if anyone else would claim the honor of closing out LeBron James and the Lakers in Los Angeles.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 of his 35 points during the second half to help the Thunder hold on. It's a performance that few players in the world could pull off. And even fewer can do so on a consistent basis, like the Clutch Player of the Year winner has done all season.
It's quite the undertaking.
"He's the best player in the league," Mitchell said of Gilgeous-Alexander. "No matter what's going in, if he's having a great night or a bad night, it doesn't matter. We know what we're getting from him. He's just consistent every single night. He's obviously a great player."
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: How OKC Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander closed sweep of Lakers
Continue reading...
He went sliding across it after sinking an and-one jumper over Marcus Smart, who'd been defending the reigning MVP so tightly all series that he didn't even give him space to land. And yet he didn't stay down for the count.
Gilgeous-Alexander quickly sat up straight like The Undertaker. A supernatural superstar with an undying determination to deliver for his team, no matter how much the Lakers tried to contain him. A composed competitor who showed what he can do, all while not showing emotion.
The OKC Thunder completed its second-round sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers with a 115-110 road win Monday night. And after scoring fewer than 25 points in three straight games for the first time since 2024, Gilgeous-Alexander erupted for 35 points on 11-for-22 shooting from the field to go along with eight assists.
"I've noticed throughout my career, through personal experiences, that emotions only get in the way of critical and smart thinking," Gilgeous-Alexander said of his composure. "Especially in those moments, when I want to get the job done the most, I try to put my emotions aside and stay locked in on what's present and what matters most."
More: Who will OKC Thunder play next in NBA Playoffs? See updated bracket
More: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder fight off LeBron James, Lakers for sweep in NBA Playoffs
Gilgeous-Alexander never wrestled with his emotions during the Thunder's sweep. Not even when the Lakers tried to frustrate him during the first two games with constant double-teams, which led to him averaging just 20 points on 14 shot attempts.
He knew the downpour of defenders would create a trickle-down effect.
Gilgeous-Alexander knew the extra attention he received would draw Los Angeles away from the rim, where OKC converted its 18 total offensive boards into an average of 38 second-chance points. He knew it'd place his teammates at advantages, which they capitalized on by shooting 52.2% from the field and 41.9% from deep.
And he knew that defensive strategy would burn a lot of energy, which likely played a role in the second-half fatigue the Lakers showed. The Thunder outscored them by a combined 29 points during the third and fourth quarters.
Gilgeous-Alexander's effectiveness under pressure eventually forced Los Angeles to dial back the double-teams during Game 3. That then set the stage for his scoring resurgence during Monday's Game 4, where he frequently reached his spots in single coverage and did damage.
"They reeled back the double teams, he kind of hid in the grass and then tonight he went and closed that thing," Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said of Gilgeous-Alexander. "Remarkable poise and maturity by him. ... Impact takes on different faces, but his impact was all four games."
Game 4 grades: Ajay Mitchell amazes again for Thunder in NBA playoff closeout of Lakers
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Of course, it's easy to not be weighed down by the pressure when your teammates lift you up. And that's what OKC's supporting cast did during the first three games to give Gilgeous-Alexander the luxury of not having to force things.
Chet Holmgren flexed his strength with physical finishes around the rim. Ajay Mitchell shined in the absence of the injured Jalen Williams (left hamstring strain) as a strong shot creator. And bench players such as Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, Jared McCain and Isaiah Joe helped OKC consistently win non-Gilgeous-Alexander minutes.
"Hats off to my teammates," Gilgeous-Alexander. "Obviously, their goal was to make my teammates beat them in the first three games, and my teammates did exactly that. So yeah, hats off to them."
But Game 4 belonged to Gilgeous-Alexander, to no surprise. As if anyone else would claim the honor of closing out LeBron James and the Lakers in Los Angeles.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 of his 35 points during the second half to help the Thunder hold on. It's a performance that few players in the world could pull off. And even fewer can do so on a consistent basis, like the Clutch Player of the Year winner has done all season.
It's quite the undertaking.
"He's the best player in the league," Mitchell said of Gilgeous-Alexander. "No matter what's going in, if he's having a great night or a bad night, it doesn't matter. We know what we're getting from him. He's just consistent every single night. He's obviously a great player."
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: How OKC Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander closed sweep of Lakers
Continue reading...
