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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had to quiet Jared McCain during a tense Game 2 moment, but the Oklahoma City Thunder still got exactly what they needed.
The Thunder were under pressure after losing the Western Conference Finals opener to the San Antonio Spurs in double overtime.
Game 2 demanded cleaner execution, steadier possessions, and fewer distractions, which made Gilgeous-Alexander’s exchange with McCain a funny but revealing detail from the night.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tells Jared McCain to quiet down as Oklahoma City Thunder reset Game 2
NBA on NBC shared Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s explanation after Jared McCain yelled at him during a shooting moment in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Game 2 win.
Gilgeous-Alexander said, “Jared [McCain] was yelling at me while I was shooting and I was just like, ‘Bro, I’m shooting. Like, don’t distract me.’ So, yeah, that’s all.”
The line sounded blunt, but it fit the moment. Gilgeous-Alexander was trying to stay locked in while Oklahoma City worked to even the series against a Spurs team led by Victor Wembanyama.
The Thunder won 122-113, tying the Western Conference Finals at 1-1. Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 30 points, while Alex Caruso added 17 off the bench.
McCain also had a real role in the win, scoring 12 points as part of a Thunder bench that outscored San Antonio’s reserves 57-25.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turns Jared McCain distraction into Oklahoma City Thunder shooter lesson
Gilgeous-Alexander later made it clear the exchange was not a serious issue, just a moment where McCain’s energy arrived before the shot was finished.
He added, “I was just telling Jared to calm down, but that’s what great shooters do when they’re open.”
That answer gave the moment a better frame. McCain was loud because he saw space, but Gilgeous-Alexander wanted quiet once he had already started the shooting process.
The Thunder needed that kind of focus after Game 1 slipped away. Oklahoma City also leaned on its defense, forcing 21 Spurs turnovers and turning them into 27 points.
For Gilgeous-Alexander, the message to McCain was simple. Great shooters can call for the ball, but not while the MVP is already shooting it.
Read more:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander downplays Thunder star’s defense despite holding Victor Wembanyama to 21 points
- How Victor Wembanyama feels about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning MVP
- How Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turned ruthless efficiency into a second straight MVP
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