Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on closing out Pacers in 2OT: ‘I’ma get it right eventually’
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed potential game-winning shots at the end of regulation and the first overtime before leading the Thunder to a 141-135 win over the Pacers in double overtime.
INDIANAPOLIS — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was cooking all night.
The Thunder guard scored a career-high 55 points during a 141-135 double-overtime win over the Pacers on Thursday. And with his team shorthanded, he was carrying more than Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, who watched the spectacle from his seat in the stands.
Still, it was after Gilgeous-Alexander’s rare misses that you could truly see him boiling. Like when he had a chance to end the NBA Finals rematch in the closing seconds of regulation, only for his buzzer-beating 3-point heave over two defenders to miss the rim entirely.
Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t say a word during his walk back to the bench. He simply adjusted his shooting sleeve, which must’ve been the culprit, as he shook his head.
“It’s just missing things I usually make,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “But it’s a game of basketball. It’s not always going to go your way.”
That marked the first of numerous opportunities for OKC to knock out Indiana, which was missing key characters from last season’s storybook run to the Finals.
Myles Turner now plays for Milwaukee. Tyrese Haliburton is still out after tearing his Achilles in Game 7. T.J. McConnell is also sidelined with a hamstring injury. And Andrew Nembhard, who stuck to fellow Canadian Gilgeous-Alexander like maple syrup during the postseason, didn’t play in the second half Thursday due to a sore left shoulder.
But Indiana, contrary to its catchy “Yes ‘Cers” slogan, refused to go gently into the brisk Indianapolis night.
Bennedict Mathurin channeled his Game 3 magic to record 36 points and 11 rebounds. Pascal Siakam racked up 32 points and 15 boards. Even Obi Toppin and Ben Sheppard combined for 35 points off the bench.
“It’s just how together we are,” Sheppard told The Oklahoman when asked about Indiana’s resiliency. “I think that’s what’s special about our team, just how close we are and how tight-knitted we are.”
OKC also showed how tight-knit it is, even when it was seemingly hanging on by a thread.
A pair of Mathurin free throws gave Indiana a 118-113 lead – its largest all night – with 3:16 left in the first overtime. And the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd, despite not being at full strength, returned to its frenzied Finals atmosphere.
OKC could’ve easily chosen to conserve fuel in that moment, having nearly emptied its tank just 48 hours prior during a double-overtime win over Houston. But it instead leaned on its supporting cast.
Five of the Thunder’s next nine points came from Ajay Mitchell, who provided steady production throughout the night when other sophomores would’ve been rattled. The former second-round selection finished with a career-high 26 points and committed just one turnover in 38 minutes off the bench.
“The play is not surprising to us,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said of Mitchell. “All of his teammates, everybody has a lot of trust in him and his talent. … Sometimes it takes (younger) guys a little bit. They seem a little wide eyed, but that was not the case for him.”
Mitchell helped set the stage for Gilgeous-Alexander’s redemption. A second shot at closing out the game with the score tied in the closing moments of the first overtime.
Indiana tried to bring a double team once again as soon as the reigning MVP crossed halfcourt, but he was ready this time. He attacked Mathurin before reinforcements came and got all the way to the rim.
Gilgeous-Alexander leaned in to draw contact, as he’d done with pure artistry all night. It’s how he went 23 for 26 from the free-throw line in a game where the whistle spoke more than the public address announcer.
But that sweet, screeching sound never came. All that could be heard was the ball smacking the backboard and rim on its way out, followed by the buzzer.
Then it was pure silence from Gilgeous-Alexander as he walked over to OKC’s bench once again, staring blankly into nothingness. Or at least it seemed that way.
“I try to look at the moments in their face, adjust and move onto the next play,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I try to be better for the next play, next overtime. Whatever it is.”
Gilgeous-Alexander certainly was better in the final overtime.
With 4:15 remaining, the superstar guard got back in the kitchen. He diced up the Pacers’ defense and reached his spot on the elbow, where he got Mathurin to bite on a pump fake.
This time Gilgeous-Alexander drew the foul, and this time he sank the shot. He then drilled the ensuing free throw to give OKC a one-point lead.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored seven points in the second overtime, bringing his career-high total to 55 points on 15-for-31 shooting from the field (2 for 7 from deep). And OKC escaped with yet another double-overtime win.
“Just a gutsy win,” Daigneault said. “Those guys were exhausted. So was Indiana. … These guys are just so competitive, so I was just so impressed with the guts of the team.”
That exhaustion could clearly be seen in Gilgeous-Alexander, who slowly walked over to his postgame press conference.
When he finally sat down, he leaned back in his seat and exhaled loudly. Just like he did after willing his team past the Rockets with a six-course serving of big-time buckets.
A shot diet like that isn’t exactly healthy throughout a long season. Double-overtime thrillers can cause some heartburn, too.
But how did it feel to finally put away those pesky Pacers? A smile spread across Gilgeous-Alexander’s face when he was asked that question.
He could finally savor his creation.
“I’ma get it right eventually,” he said. “Fortunately, I’ve had a few chances in these first two games. … It’s not ideal, four extra overtimes in two games. But we’ll take it. Two W’s.”
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.
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