Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 92-87 comeback win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night, evening the Western Conference semifinal series at two games apiece.
After scoring nine of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, the All-NBA guard shared insight into his mentality and the Thunder’s response to adversity throughout a game that featured sharp defensive pressure and physical play.
“We stayed the course,” Gilgeous-Alexander said during his postgame press conference. “The game, especially in the series, has been so random almost, and it’s thrown different things at us. We did that to perfection tonight.”
Oklahoma City overcame an eight-point deficit with strong contributions from its bench, particularly Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins, who sparked an 11-0 run to reclaim control.
Gilgeous-Alexander emphasized the team’s decisiveness, saying, “We just tried to be aggressive. Nothing more than that.”
Denver continued to throw varied defensive looks at him, including heavy zone coverage and multiple help defenders, which limited his space to attack early.
“They’re doing a good job of throwing multiple bodies,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s like a box behind the guy guarding me.”
Despite those challenges, he praised his team’s ability to generate quality opportunities down the stretch, noting that “those types of defenses just force you to pass, and I just have to be willing to make the right play every time.”
When asked about the Thunder’s approach in crunch time, Gilgeous-Alexander kept it simple: “We got stops. We rebounded. Then we got quality possessions offensively.”
His late-game poise was evident as he operated like a closer, taking responsibility during the final minutes of a tightly contested game.
“I always feel like those are the moments where the guy on the team earns his buck,” he said. “You close games. You win games.”
The 26-year-old also credited the team’s identity and resilience as central to surviving the intense playoff environment.
“We’ve done a really good job of just not wavering from our identity,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “And I think that’s why we got a W tonight.”
Oklahoma City’s depth again played a critical role, with Wallace, Wiggins, and Alex Caruso all providing key support.
“We’ve been a team that has just done whatever it takes to win across the board,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “That group to start the fourth did a really good job of getting us back in the game.”
He singled out Caruso for his veteran leadership and versatility: “It’s no coincidence. He does what it takes to win basketball games on the highest of stage.”
Off the court, Gilgeous-Alexander reflected on the support of his family and how it shapes his mindset.
“One thing [my mother] always taught me was no matter what happens, she’s going to love me,” he said. “That gives me the ability to go out there and not really care what happens.”
With the series now tied, Gilgeous-Alexander’s mentality moving forward remains unchanged.
“Win,” he said.
