Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder not ‘taking the regular season for granted’
OKC Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points in 29 minutes of a 117-100 win against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.
ATLANTA – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stayed on the ground for a moment during the final minute of OKC’s double-overtime road win over Indiana on Thursday.
“I’m tired as f—,” the superstar guard could be heard saying.
Understandable. It marked another marathon of a contest for OKC, which became the first team in NBA history to begin its season with two double-overtime games.
But that streak ended on Saturday, as OKC cruised to a 117-100 road win over Atlanta. And instead of laying flat on the floor in exhaustion down the stretch, Gilgeous-Alexander spent the entire fourth quarter sitting comfortably on the bench with a towel over his shoulders.
His night ended early after erupting for 30 points, five assists and four rebounds in 29 minutes of action. That helped the Thunder improve to 3-0 on the season.
“It’s the gauntlet of the NBA season, Gilgeous-Alexander said. “You never know what to expect. In the summertime, you try to prepare for the worst in terms of load-wise, and I think we’ve done a great job of being ready for the start of the season. We’ve had some pop for these first three games despite having a few double-overtime games.”
Here are three takeaways from the win:
Pre-order new book on Thunder’s run to NBA title
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was on the prowl all night
Dyson Daniels is one of the best defenders in all of basketball.
He’s a 6-7 guard with great size and reach at his position. He’s an All-Defensive first teamer. And he’s Australian, a notoriously-fearless bunch that encounters venomous snakes and killer crocodiles on morning strolls.
But in the basketball world, Gilgeous-Alexander sits atop the food chain. And Daniels found himself dancing with the apex predator early in the second quarter.
Gilgeous-Alexander hunted for his spot along the baseline, elevated and released a 10-footer over the outstretched hand of Daniels. It fell through the rim, plus the foul.
Gilgeous-Alexander preyed on Atlanta’s defense, which included numerous stout defenders, throughout the night. He scored his 30 points on 12-for-17 shooting from the field (2 for 6 from deep).
“He’s kind of in character right now,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said of Gilgeous-Alexander. “It’s a credit to the work that he does. He doesn’t ease his way into the season. He’s ready to go on Night 1 and for all 82. In terms of his play, he looks about the same.”
Chet Holmgren couldn’t be stopped by injuries or Atlanta’s defense
Chet Holmgren was questionable entering Saturday’s contest due to lower back soreness, but he still played.
The big man then dislocated his right thumb while contesting a dunk late in the second quarter and briefly left to get X-rays, but he still returned.
No injury could stop Holmgren, and neither could Atlanta’s defense. He recorded 31 points, 12 rebounds and three steals in 27 minutes on 8-for-12 shooting from the field (6 for 8 from deep).
It was a strong performance for Holmgren, who found his scoring rhythm after finishing with 15 points on 4-for-12 shooting from the field (0 for 6 from deep) against Indiana.
“He’s always got that,” Daigneault said of Holmgren’s gutsiness. “He’s always ready to go. Great competitor. I don’t want to speak for him, but I think he was disappointed with how he played offensively against Indiana, and he came out tonight teeing up those shots. He saw a couple go in and had a great game flow.”
Cason Wallace stole the show defensively
Even in Atlanta, Cason Wallace is the biggest ballhawk.
The third-year guard showed that early in the third quarter when Mouhamed Gueye blocked Holmgren’s shot and launched an Atlanta fastbreak. Gueye tried to find a trailing Daniels, who had a clear path to the rim, but Wallace had other plans.
He sprinted back on defense and intercepted the pass, spoiling what would’ve been an easy dunk.
Wallace finished with three steals to go along with three points and three rebounds in 26 minutes. He’s now averaging 3.5 steals this season through two outings.
Wallace also helped make life difficult for Atlanta star Trae Young. The Norman native and former OU star only finished with 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting from the field (41.7%).
“He’s just got unbelievable hands, athleticism, toughness and a combination of things,” Daigneault said of Wallace. “He seems to be a dude who, when he’s near the ball, he comes up with it. … He’s the guy at the bottom of a pile who’s gonna get the fumble and come up with the football.”
Tip insShai Gilgeous-Alexander played against his cousin, Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Cason Wallace also played against his brother, Keaton.Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 20 points in 75 straight regular-season games. That’s the fourth-longest streak in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain (126 games and 92 games) and Oscar Robertson (79 games).Ajay Mitchell finished with 14 points, seven assists and seven rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench. The sophomore guard has scored double-digit points in each of OKC’s first three games this season.
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com 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.
Thunder at Mavericks
TIPOFF: 7:30 p.m. Monday at American Airlines Center in Dallas (FanDuel Sports Network)