DENVER — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander maintained his composure despite a challenging evening on the court. His positive demeanor persisted even in the face of some fans at Ball Arena jeering him as he walked off following Oklahoma City’s 113-104 overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets. Such setbacks didn’t seem to shake his determination.
“It’s easier to taunt when you’re winning,” Gilgeous-Alexander remarked, having scored 18 points while shooting 7 for 22 from the field and 1 of 6 from beyond the arc on Friday night. “I’m not going to show I’m upset or defeated. The series isn’t decided, and there’s still plenty to be hopeful about. Though I didn’t display my best towards the end, there’s another game and another chance to address that. I remain optimistic.”
The Thunder were coming off a decisive 43-point victory over Denver in Game 2, where they managed to make everything click seamlessly. However, the recent contest proved more arduous, especially during overtime where they were outscored 11-2, managing just one of seven attempts from the floor and surrendering two turnovers.
As a young team, the Thunder find themselves trailing 2-1 in the series ahead of Game 4 on Sunday at Ball Arena. “Losses are painful, especially in the playoffs,” acknowledged coach Mark Daigneault, highlighting that the team had previously swept Memphis in the opening round. “We are working towards becoming a great team, having already achieved many milestones in that process. Being a great team involves being tested to your limits in the playoffs and meeting those challenges head-on.”
From Game 3, the positives for the Thunder included keeping Nikola Jokic, last season’s NBA MVP, to an 8 for 25 performance, including 0 for 10 from the three-point line. Jalen Williams also delivered an impressive 32-point surge, and the Thunder overwhelmed Denver on the offensive glass with an 18-5 advantage, outscoring them 56-32 in the paint.
Challenges from Game 3 were apparent in their 25.7% shooting accuracy from three-point distance and Gilgeous-Alexander’s less-than-stellar performance, as he is a leading contender for MVP against Jokic.
“Losing is tough, but it doesn’t mean you abandon everything,” Daigneault noted. “The key is learning from both the positives and negatives.”
The Thunder intend to scrutinize the Game 3 footage, drawing lessons from it – in the same way they bounced back after their first series defeat. “It isn’t all about good times,” Williams observed. “There will be both highs and lows. It’s about making the most through those in-between periods that defines a really good team.”