The Oklahoma City Thunder shook off their pre-game jitters and fought back against an early tough opponent. Their last victory, earning a berth to the Western Conference Finals, was a thorough Game 7 win over the Denver Nuggets. The Thunder played the right balance of cool-headedness and ferocity. Through it all, players such as Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made memories with spectacular performances.
Jalen Williams sparked an important 18-5 surge in the early part of the 1st half. He had 11 points and hit all five of his field goals during that span. His 39 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists were crucial in changing momentum to favor the Thunder. For all the fireworks he was responsible for, Williams was surprisingly honest about feeling jittery during the game itself—he’d hardly slept the night before.
“I mean, I’ve really just been thieving things from other folks and perfecting it and developing it and working on it,” Williams said. You don’t know how many Game 7s you’re going to have. It’s an opportunity to be great. So I was just happy and excited about just playing and just being able to get that chance.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was as cool as he’s ever been in this entire game. He felt some nerves leading up to Game 7, but he effectively used the two days off between Games 6 and 7 to prepare himself mentally. His talent for keeping a cool head amid chaos soon became a cornerstone of the squad.
Alex Caruso made significant contributions as he aggressively fronted Nuggets’ star Nikola Jokic, denying him the ball at crucial moments. Caruso’s defensive prowess helped disrupt Denver’s offensive rhythm, allowing the Thunder to capitalize on their opportunities.
I’ve experienced the privilege of being on the court with Hall of Famers, Caruso said. Fittingly enough, I’ve been coached by the elite of the elite, and their influence in redirection and game strategy has molded my approach.
All-Star Aaron Gordon took the court for the Nuggets despite a severe Grade 2 hamstring strain. Sadly, he couldn’t do much to get themselves moving in that game. His injury created a compelling hole in Denver’s lineup, as Oklahoma City took advantage of this soft spot excellently all game.
Chet Holmgren became an essential secondary help defender after Caruso. His leadership improved the Thunder’s on-court communication and increased their overall urgency. The travel party displayed an incredible ability to read the game and make important changes on the fly. This might be the biggest improvement Caruso has made since his trade from the Chicago Bulls.
“I think that they’ve done a good job of that,” Caruso said in explaining the team’s overall improvement. The level of communication between our group has been astounding compared to when I first started. We’re just less strident and better at breaking down the tensions and making progress.
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