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How did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tie OKC Thunder record vs. Heat? 'Everything’s consistent'
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- How did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tie OKC Thunder record vs. Heat? 'Everything’s consistent'
As of Friday afternoon, Mark Daigneault announced his commitment to the forbidden use of the word. Yes, that one.
The one that's dominated the air with wins, a permeating musk, a scent stronger than a longer room of sumo wrestlers. It's familiar for those who've watched the Thunder grow since the 2010s , seeing youthful teams build toward it. The regular season isn't over for the Thunder, so Daigneault won't hear it.
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"I haven't used the 'P word,'" the Oklahoma City coach said, (maybe) jokingly refusing to mention the playoffs. "More focused on continuing improving here through the last quarter of the season.
"Not right now. Not on March 8th."
As of Friday night, the Thunder elevated back into first place in the West after a 107-100 win over the Heat , all but forcing Daigneault's hand. It looked and unfolded like the P word.
More: Can Thunder make effective adjustments in playoffs? Don't rule out Mark Daigneault's mind
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrates next to Heat forward Caleb Martin (16) in the second half of OKC's 107-100 win Friday night at Paycom Center.
The system synchronicity, the recalibration shown time and time again by a team that leads the league in double-digit comebacks (it trailed by 14 as late as the third quarter). Miami 's zone defense and its 24-minute mock of OKC's defense.
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It took a forgettable half in which the Heat left the Thunder scrambling like Tom chasing Jerry, racing around the perimeter in hopes of locating Miami's shooters — Patty Mills scored 11 points in the second quarter, almost all off of this — but the Thunder's defense eventually arrived.
It took different forms. With unexpected low presences like Gordon Hayward , who snagged a couple heady steals; Isaiah Joe , whose slight frame hardly mattered when tagging rollers and drivers; and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who connected on a pair of timely fourth-quarter blocks.
In the third quarter alone, the Thunder held Miami to 29.4% from the field and 28.6% from deep. What were initially Jaime Jaquez cuts and entry passes and back screens of fury — all in an attempt to punk OKC's interior defense and challenge its rotations — became strips and fastbreaks.
When OKC waded through and matched Miami's physicality, it found basketball bliss.
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Jaylin Williams (five points, seven rebounds), who played his first game since suffering an injury in San Antonio , delivered in the middle of the zone and with a wild late putback. Aaron Wiggins flew for baseline dunks and momentous sequences. When OKC saw a chance to grip the game, Gilgeous-Alexander connected on a few of his clutchest shots of the year.
The Thunder packed a lot into the final six minutes of its Friday win. Its firm grip and convincing late stretch — against as formidable a nightly system team as the Heat — was reminiscent of a playoff grappling.
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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) and Jaylin Williams (6) bring Mike Muscala (50) to the post game interview in the second half of the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Miami Heat at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday, March 8, 2024.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander consistently approaching history
Outside of a few blemishes, Gilgeous-Alexander 's season has been a 63-game long panoramic mirror. Endlessly and repetitively great, a constant reflection that reached history Friday in perhaps the most obvious way possible.
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With his 37-point, five-rebound, six-assist night, SGA tied Kevin Durant 's single-season Thunder record of 47 30-point games. He did it by posting 12 points in the fourth quarter, 10 of those points in the final 3:04. He'll have a chance to break the record Sunday versus the Grizzlies , with just less than 20 games remaining in the regular season.
Soon, Merriam-Webster will need to scrap the words that take space next to the definition of "consistent" to make room for Gilgeous-Alexander's headshot. Soon, the Thunder record books will be forced to make room for OKC's new franchise face as he absorbs its youth history.
This is what he does.
"My whole life is consistent," he said in his on-court interview postgame. "Everything I do. From what I eat, to when I sleep, to my recovery, to my loved ones. Everything's consistent. It's a routine for me at this point."
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Gilgeous-Alexander has routinely confused defenses, one of the few players capable of thwarting Miami's zone when necessary. His 30-pieces have become part of the formula.
He's made countless big shots. Classic moments. A spin jumper in Denver , a baseline fade in Orlando before verbally kicking out the crowd. His latest moment came late Friday, with the Thunder up four with just over a minute to play.
Gilgeous-Alexander rejected Chet Holmgren 's screen, dipping his shoulder into what appeared to be a convincing drive. With one swift motion, he yanked himself back — a stepback 3 that Terry Rozier could do nothing about. Even three quarters of the way through a historical season, SGA might've been the only one who wasn't so sure the shot would drop.
"A little bit of relief," he said he felt. "Didn't really have my 3-ball tonight."
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Jalen Williams speaks on added muscle, finishing
Leagues have questioned players' fitness integrity for much less than what Jalen Williams has done around the rim this season.
His upper body has moved mountains. He's finished among the trees. He's played above the rim and completed layups that require two, three replays to understand.
With just over 40 seconds to play, Williams (15 points, five rebounds, four assists) used his signature push dribble to split Miami's tight squeeze of help at the nail, then took to the air. He rose up with Jaime Jaquez leaping simultaneously and Bam Adebayo following behind. And somehow, after twisting his body through contact, it fell.
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"In the summer I was able to get stronger, it was something I harped on," Williams said. "I think I was only shooting a little over two free throws a game, so a lot of it was 'you don't want to leave it the officials hands, because they're human too.'
"I wanted to make sure that I was going in there to actually finish and not look around for the foul."
Williams is up to 3.3 free-throw attempts per game this season. But he's likely averaging more daring rim attempts, plenty of which defenses just don't have an answer for.
More: How OKC Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can make Kentucky basketball history in MVP race
Thunder vs. Grizzlies
TIPOFF:6 p.m. Sunday at Paycom Center (Bally Sports Oklahoma)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ties OKC Thunder record in win vs. Miami Heat
