Counterfactual #1 Disappointment for the Oklahoma City Thunder in their Game 6 elimination against the Indiana Pacers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had one of his worst games ever, leading to their embarrassing loss. The Thunder guard finished with eight turnovers, an inexcusable mistake that matched his regular-season career worst. This represents the highest number of turnovers he’s recorded in a postseason contest. Even then, the team was losing by 30 points. Fittingly enough, considering the game had a truly awful fourth quarter to finish, Gilgeous-Alexander and the other starters didn’t play the final frame.
Despite those heavy defensive attentions in-game, Gilgeous-Alexander was still able to create and score 16 points while shooting 6-of-13 from the field. Unfortunately, his performance was tainted by the turnovers and one assist. He acknowledged the weight of the moment, stating that the opportunity to clinch a championship was on his mind at the beginning of the game.
Gilgeous-Alexander chalked up at least a few of his turnovers up to laziness and not being locked in. He expressed disappointment with the team’s overall performance, saying, “The way I see it is we sucked tonight. Now, we didn’t play like it at all. That’s why the night went the way that it did. We got exactly what we deserved, what we earned. We have to own that.”
Teammate Jalen Williams was on the same page, saying when the game “got sticky.” The Thunder had to scramble all game long, and that put them in a tough position when trying to come back against a feisty Pacers team.
Looking ahead to Game 7, Gilgeous-Alexander feels confident that the right team will win out. He stressed that he himself and his teammates need to use what they went through in Game 6 as a learning experience. A bright opportunity for redemption looms ahead. He should be well-rested too, having sat out the last quarter of their last game, which is sure to help him.
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