OKC Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was full of praise for one of his key players after the team’s Game 7 win.
In a winner-takes-all game, the young OKC Thunder side proved why they were the best team all season with a dominant 125-93 win on the night against the Denver Nuggets.
MVP front runner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stepped up for his team with a stellar 35 point performance, where he shot 63.2% from the field.
The Denver Nuggets started the game well and had a 21-10 lead with Aaron Gordon also performing well despite his improbable status before the game.
Fans gave Gordon flowers for showing up to the game, but from that point on, the Thunder never stopped and put clamps on the Nuggets to keep building up their lead.
Another player who starred for the Thunder was Jalen Williams and coach Mark Daigneault lauded the player for stepping up.
Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty ImagesThunder coach heaps praise on Jalen Williams
Fans were full of praise after Williams’ 24-point performance in the important game against the Nuggets.
He also grabbed five rebounds and made seven assists on the night, while shooting 59% from the field.
Williams had a very poor Game 6 performance, which is why it was important for him to respond strongly in the crucial Game 7 at home.
Mark Daigneault acknowledged the 24-year-old’s great early start to the game as well.
He said: “Great force, especially early. It was definitely a conscious effort by him to use his speed and power. He was on the gas from the jump tonight, he was incredible.
“You talk about bouncing back, no player in the playoffs plays great every night. Jokic as great as he is, did not play great ever night in the series, it’s hard and Dub because he’s in his third year takes a little more flak for that, but like it’s hard to perform in a playoff game this competitive every night, but he rises up every night.
“He did it last year, Game 6 against Dallas was his best game after some struggles and tonight was his best game after some struggles as well.”
.Jalen Williams is going to be pivotal
After the win against the Nuggets, the OKC Thunder will now head to the Conference Finals to face off against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Both these sides met in the Conference Semis last year and it was the T-Wolves who won on that occasion.
However, the Thunder are a much better and different team from back then.
They have the size and a little bit of experience to matchup against the Timberwolves.
But if they are to have a good series, Williams will have to be at his best.
The All-Star is a vital player for the team as his performance has a big say in the result of the game.
Not only is he a great offensive player, but his ability to lock up opposition’s best player is also instrumental to all the success the Thunder have had.
Alongside averaging 19 PPG, 5.4 RPG and 5.7 APG, Williams also averaged 1.5 steals in the playoffs, which shows how disruptive he can be on the defensive end.
The Timberwolves are a side that are physical and have the size, which is why Williams will have to step up if the Thunder are to have any chance.