Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault highlighted Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s leadership and team play following Monday’s 114-110 overtime victory against the Detroit Pistons at Paycom Center. Daigneault emphasized how the reigning MVP managed the game despite its physical and choppy nature.
“He’s done it all year and made a habit of it. I’m just amazed with his ability to labor in a game and then, snap of the fingers, he’s back in rhythm,” Daigneault said.
Daigneault also spoke about the team’s energy in a hard-fought matchup. “The game forced us to do that. To the credit of the guys, we did it. We just never let go. Despite the fact that it wasn’t an easy game and not all your wins are going to be pretty, you got to find ways to win different types of games, including the ones that are a little muddy,” he said.
Chet Holmgren’s presence was another key factor in the Thunder’s win. “He was really good. He’s a winner, an incredibly impactful player. Losing him hurt, but he and JWill in tandem really settled down their rebounding. They finished with 15 boards, taking that advantage away from Detroit. He was outstanding,” Daigneault added.
The coach praised bench contributors as well. “Wiggs played really well tonight. He’s a great professional. We gave him the opportunity and he delivered. He made big shots in the second half and played a really good floor game,” Daigneault said of Aaron Wiggins’ performance.
Reflecting on Gilgeous-Alexander’s clutch moments, Daigneault noted, “His ability to work through a game—he didn’t play great for a lot of the game until this point—then he really hit his stride. He’s made such a habit of it, it’s so impressive.”
Daigneault also touched on playoff readiness. “Playing through physicality is a playoff skill for sure. Playing against great teams that know you really well, the closeouts are harder, everybody’s fighting for loose balls. You have to work through it, not make excuses, and just pull together and try to win the next possession. We sharpened that tonight,” he said.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 47 points, including eight in overtime, extending his NBA record to 136 consecutive games with at least 20 points. The Thunder, now the first team in the league to reach 60 wins this season, remain two games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs atop the Western Conference.
Daigneault praised the team’s growth in late-game execution. “The guys have done a great job. They attack the next possession and understand the nature of the game down the stretch. We’ve just grown as a team and our ability to handle those situations and stack the odds in our favor has improved,” he said.
