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Tim McMahon
multiple authors
PHOENIX – With a little more than seven minutes remaining in Saturday’s Game 3, the reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander split a pair of phoenix sun Defender in transition and finishing through contact.
As the Suns called timeout, Gilgeous-Alexander raised his fists and headed for the ball oklahoma city thunder bench.
“I don’t need this!” Gilgeous-Alexander shouted, displaying a level of animated emotion that is usually rare for a similar superstar. “I don’t need this!”
No, Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t need a foul called in that game nor did he need a friendly whistle to dominate the Suns, leading the defending champion Thunder by scoring a career-high 42 points on 15-of-18 shooting. win 121-109 At the Mortgage Matching Center.
Leading the Western Conference first-round series 3-0, Oklahoma City has a chance to complete the sweep in Monday’s Game 4.
Gilgeous-Alexander is often criticized for his called fouls, including after Game 2 by the Suns forward dillon brookswho complained about Gilgeous-Alexander “flopping and falling” to get whistles, calling his Canadian countryman “weak”. However, Gilgeous-Alexander denied that any of this was on his mind as he happily told his teammates that he did not need to make the wrong call.
“I think they missed the call, but I still scored,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s okay; don’t worry about it. Nothing more.”
The Suns had no answer for Gilgeous-Alexander, even though Phoenix had more freedom to load up defensively against him with the Oklahoma City star wing. jalen williams He was sidelined with a left hamstring strain.
Gilgeous-Alexander went 15 of 18 from the floor and 11 of 12 from the free throw line, with half of his foul shots coming in the final few minutes, with the Thunder leading by double digits and the Suns desperately trying to take the game away.
According to ESPN Research, Gilgeous-Alexander became the fifth player in NBA history to score at least 40 points while shooting 80% from the floor in a playoff game, a feat last accomplished by the Suns star. Devin Booker In 2023.
“I don’t think we saw anything different than normal tonight, other than he was 15-of-18,” the Thunder power forward. Chet Holmgren Said. “It seemed like a perfectly normal night, I guess.”
Gilgeous-Alexander was 14 of 16 on shots off the dribble. His score was 7 out of 8 on open shots and 8 out of 10 on competitive shots. He was 3-of-3 in the game when the Suns double-teamed him.
“Some of the shots were incredibly tough,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said. “We know he can make some of those shots.
“We tried different matchups, tried to take it out of his hands. He got to that area where it’s a little tough to take it out of his hands when he gets on top of us. Give him credit. He turned us around tonight.”
Gilgeous-Alexander, who had a game-high eight assists, said Williams’ absence had no impact on his approach. Williams’ Grade 1 left hamstring strain is scheduled to be reevaluated on Thursday, meaning he is unlikely to play at least the remainder of the series, even if Phoenix manages to extend it.
“I’m very fortunate to be in this position. But no matter who’s in there, I get a chance to go out there and play my game,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “That’s just my role on this team, and my coaches and teammates do a really good job of letting me be in my spots. Now with our second ball handler out, naturally the end of the shot-clock and naturally the beginning of possession, the ball will be in my hands more, naturally without the dub. So, it’s a little more opportunity.
“But regardless, with that opportunity, I try to neither over-press nor under-press. Just let the game tell me what to do. And usually it works out pretty well.”
Days after scoring 37 in Wednesday’s Game 2 win in Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander challenged his teammates by reminding them of their struggles in Game 3 during last year’s championship run. Had to overcome 31-point deficit to defeat Oklahoma City memphis grizzlies Lost in Game 3 of the First Round and Game 3s denver nuggetsThe minnesota timberwolves and this Indiana Pacers In the rest of its series.
Gilgeous-Alexander made sure that trend ended Saturday afternoon, when he made his first eight shots from the floor and scored 25 of his 42 points in the second half, putting the Thunder in position to clinch their first-round series for the third straight year.
“That’s it,” Thunder forward alex caruso Said about Gilgeous-Alexander. “I’m not surprised by him anymore. I’ve come to expect it — and that may be detrimental to him and his greatness, because I get to see it every night. But it’s really great to see his mentality. He’s always optimistic, and he’s a killer with his competitive mentality.”
