Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, currently the NBA’s leading scorer, showcased his skills during Game 2 of the playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies. Even after having a few poor shooting days, the culture & leadership he helps create won his team more games than any others in his field. The Oklahoma City Thunder secured a commanding victory, outscoring the Grizzlies by 40 points with him on the floor across the series.
In Game 2, challenged from the jump, Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t flinch and met problems with aggression. After falling behind, he showed both resilience and skill, scoring quickly on the next two possessions. He stuck an impeccable midrange jumper. Moments later, he arched an off-balance shot over the 7-foot-4 Zach Edey, for a great shot-creator-versus-shot-stopper play that combo’d his offensive creativity with instinctive game management.
Gilgeous-Alexander ended the game with 27 points on 10-of-29 shooting from the field. His 6-for-19 performance shooting from the field now leaves him shooting 32.6% in the series. He wasn’t without obstacles, but he didn’t perish on the vine. In Game 2, he further affected the game as a playmaker, collecting eight boards, five dimes, and two steals.
The Thunder’s play has been remarkable, as they’ve dominated both games in this series without breaking a sweat. So, despite Gilgeous-Alexander’s shooting struggles, his impact on the glass and as a playmaker have made him invaluable.
“He does so much more through the complete course of the game than just scoring for our team, and I think that’s showing up,” said Alex Caruso, highlighting Gilgeous-Alexander’s all-around impact.
Even Gilgeous-Alexander already recognized that you can’t get lost in the ebbs and flows of the game. “That’s part of basketball. It’s ups and downs, makes and misses. Because my team is really good, we’ve won two games by a decent margin. They’ve had my back these last two nights. Hopefully, I pick it up soon,” he stated after the game.
The Thunder’s power to pull out victories with such a diverse offensive display is a testament to their incredible team chemistry. Gilgeous-Alexander is an early favorite for MVP honors. Hope to see him keep it up over the course of the series!
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