Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder took Recreation 1 of the Western Convention Finals in opposition to Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Invoice Simmons was amongst these merely not completely satisfied after the sport.
Invoice Simmons rips Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after Recreation 1 win
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander completed with 31 factors, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, and three steals within the Thunder’s Recreation 1 over the Timberwolves. He shot simply 10-of-27 from the sphere, however did make 11 of his 14 free throw makes an attempt.
All through the night time, nonetheless, followers at house joined Timberwolves gamers and coaches in complaining concerning the extreme and constant foul-baiting by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the court docket.
Chief amongst these followers was The Ringer’s well-liked podcaster, Invoice Simmons.
Simmons took to social media at round halftime of Recreation 1 with a easy message.
“I don’t care who wins this sport,” Simmons mentioned. “The contact foul calls SGA will get are actually terrible. They don’t resemble the rest that’s occurring within the playoffs.”
I don’t care who wins this sport. The contact foul calls SGA will get are actually terrible. They don’t resemble the rest that’s occurring within the playoffs.
— Invoice Simmons (@BillSimmons) Could 21, 2025
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t have a fantastic capturing sport, as evidenced by his capturing simply 37 p.c from the sphere and no made three-pointers on 4 makes an attempt.
He did, nonetheless, try seven free throws within the first quarter whereas clearly trying to attract fouls as a substitute of specializing in ending on the basket, therefore the open layups he missed within the opening interval.
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And for the report, SGA’s first half tonight was a few of the nastiest grifting i’ve seen from him in a very very long time.
It was ugly and an actual powerful watch.
However he solely shot 5 within the second half the place he dropped 20 factors and all anyone can speak about is his first half lol?
— Cooper Jones (@CooperJNBA) Could 21, 2025
The Thunder went on to defeat the Timberwolves, 114-88. Jalen Williams added 19 factors, eight rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals. Chet Holmgren scored 15 factors with seven rebounds, three assists, and two blocks whereas Isaiah Hartenstein recorded 12 factors and 5 rebounds.
Julius Randle paced the Wolves with 28 factors and proper rebounds, however was held to simply eight second half factors after scoring 20 within the first. Anthony Edwards scored 18 factors with 9 rebounds, however was clearly hampered by the ankle damage sustained late within the first quarter of Recreation 1.