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Tim MacMahon
SAN FRANCISCO — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s second profession 50-point recreation — and second within the span of 4 video games — was not a trigger for celebration.
That’s as a result of it occurred in a uncommon loss for the Western Convention-leading Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, who fell to the Golden State Warriors 116-109 on Wednesday night time regardless of Gilgeous-Alexander pouring in 52 factors.
“It sucks. Me personally, I play to win,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “Winning comes first and foremost, and if I don’t win, I am not satisfied. So maybe my 52 points tonight wasn’t in the best interest of the team.”
Gilgeous-Alexander grew to become the primary participant within the league with a number of 50-point performances this season; he scored a career-high 54 factors within the Thunder’s Jan. 22 residence win over the Utah Jazz. He joined Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook as the one gamers in franchise historical past with a number of 50-point performances in a season.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s scoring chief at 32.5 factors per recreation, completed 16-of-29 from the ground and 18-of-21 from the road, probably the most free throw makes an attempt of his profession.
“He’s cold,” Warriors ahead Andrew Wiggins stated. “He’s tough. He can score at all three levels; he gets to the foul line and he doesn’t stop. The whole game he’s at you. … We did the best we can.”
Gilgeous-Alexander obtained off to a blistering begin at Chase Middle because the Thunder (37-9) jumped to a 14-point lead within the first quarter, when he had 21 factors on 7-of-8 taking pictures from the ground. It was a spectacular show of ballhandling, physique management and shot-making as Gilgeous-Alexander carved up a Golden State protection that steadily dedicated a second defender to him.
“Sometimes, even when you’re out there, you kind of get caught watching,” stated Thunder ahead Jalen Williams, who scored 26 factors on 12-of-26 taking pictures. “Because he’s getting to places on the floor that you shouldn’t be able to with how the defense is guarding him. And it’s kind of just one of those things that you got to snap out of it a little bit and not get caught watching and be ready to be an outlet for him or cut or still be engaged in the offense.”
It was the second time in two weeks that Gilgeous-Alexander has single-handedly outscored the opposing staff within the first quarter, which no different participant within the league has achieved greater than as soon as this season, in response to ESPN Analysis.
Within the first occasion, the Thunder cruised to a blowout win over the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 16. On Wednesday, Oklahoma Metropolis gamers apart from Gilgeous-Alexander struggled to discover a rhythm within the last few quarters, when the Thunder had been held to 75 factors on 37.3% taking pictures because the Warriors rallied.
“There’s probably a tendency in those situations where he’s just humming [to get caught watching Gilgeous-Alexander].” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated. “But we also have an identity as a team. We have a bunch of guys that have confidence. We have to be that team regardless of context. Whether he’s having an off night, which doesn’t happen often, or whether he’s having a night like tonight.”
With the Thunder struggling to generate offense from others, Daigneault adjusted his rotation within the fourth quarter to chop his celebrity’s relaxation brief. Gilgeous-Alexander checked again in with the rating tied and 9:55 remaining, about three minutes sooner than ordinary.
“I don’t know what to do with Shai,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr stated. “I asked Mark to just leave him on the bench for a couple of more minutes, and he did not comply. I Iooked down to Mark and said, ‘You can’t give him like two more minutes. That would be really helpful for us.’ And Mark just laughed.”
However the Warriors (24-23) pulled away down the stretch. Gilgeous-Alexander’s final two buckets got here within the last minute when the Warriors had been up by three-possession margins.
“I’ll watch the game over, see where I could have been better and trying to win the game is most important for me,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “I’m not satisfied. This doesn’t feel nearly as good as the other [50-point performance] did because of the L.”
ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk contributed to this report.
