Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander admits to a little rust in Game 1 vs. Lakers

The Oklahoma City Thunder remained perfect in the postseason Tuesday night, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t ready to celebrate just yet. Despite a 108-90 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals, the Thunder superstar felt the weight of an eight-day layoff.

“We’re a little choppy, a little rusty tonight offensively,” Gilgeous-Alexander admitted during his postgame interview at Paycom Center. “But we just stuck with it, made plays.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander full postgame interview on the court, after the Thunder win game 1 – Western Semifinals – 2026 NBA Playoffs

Including a replay, where Marcus Smart made SGA laugh (right at the end of the video) pic.twitter.com/5SYJxMPbeQ

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) May 6, 2026

The rust showed most in the turnover column. Gilgeous-Alexander committed six turnovers, his highest total of the season, as he struggled to find his usual rhythm after Oklahoma City swept the Phoenix Suns in the first round. He still finished with a solid 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting, but his uncharacteristic sloppiness kept the Lakers within striking distance for three quarters.

Chet Holmgren ensured the “choppy” play didn’t cost Oklahoma City the game. The 7-foot-1 phenom dominated the interior, posting a massive double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Holmgren caught fire early, scoring 18 points in the first half alone to give the Thunder a 61-53 lead at the break. Guard Ajay Mitchell also provided a scoring punch, matching Gilgeous-Alexander with 18 points.

On the other side, LeBron James carried the load for Los Angeles, finishing with 27 points, six assists, and four rebounds. However, he received little help. Austin Reaves struggled immensely, shooting a frigid 3-of-16 from the field to finish with only eight points. The Lakers’ night went from bad to worse when Jarred Vanderbilt exited in the second quarter with a hand injury after hitting the backboard.

Oklahoma City’s depth eventually overwhelmed the visitors. Trade-deadline acquisition Jared McCain sparked a fourth-quarter run with back-to-back triples, helping the Thunder bench outscore the Lakers’ reserves 34-15. If Gilgeous-Alexander cleans up the turnovers for Game 2 on Thursday, the Lakers face a daunting uphill climb.

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