Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander takes blame for Game 1 flop with ‘obvious’ Spurs confession

The Oklahoma City Thunder saw their Western Conference Finals opener spoiled Monday night as the San Antonio Spurs pulled away for a 122-115 double overtime victory despite MVP guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander receiving his second consecutive Most Valuable Player trophy before tip-off.

Gilgeous-Alexander later took responsibility for Oklahoma City’s struggles after the Thunder dropped Game 1 at home. The newly crowned back-to-back MVP admitted San Antonio’s size and defensive pressure disrupted both his rhythm and the Thunder offense throughout the night.

The Thunder star finished with 24 points, 12 assists, five steals, three rebounds and one block while shooting just 7-for-23 from the field across 51 minutes. He also went 2-for-7 from three-point range as San Antonio’s defense consistently forced difficult looks inside the paint.

“We just got to be better — me, in particular,” Gilgeous-Alexander told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon postgame. “I have to be better, especially against a team of this caliber. Nothing more than that.”

San Antonio’s length created major problems for Oklahoma City throughout the game, particularly around the rim where the Spurs repeatedly disrupted drives and forced contested finishes. The Thunder struggled to maintain offensive consistency during key stretches late in regulation and both overtime periods.

“It’s obviously challenging — very tall, very long, deters a lot of things at the rim,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “You’ve got to be smart when you go in there. Be patient, but also be aggressive. Don’t be too timid in there. I think you get caught worrying about it too much, and you lose aggression. That’s where they really put a stranglehold on the game. You’ve got to be able to be aggressive but also be smart.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reflects on Spurs challenge after Thunder’s Game 1 loss

The loss overshadowed what had been a celebratory night for Gilgeous-Alexander, who became just the 14th player in NBA history to win back-to-back MVP awards. Oklahoma City entered the series after another dominant regular season, but San Antonio immediately showcased the defensive versatility and frontcourt size that has helped establish the franchise as a rising Western Conference power.

Gilgeous-Alexander also acknowledged after the game that the postseason environment exposes every weakness and adjustment teams must make.

“That’s what this time of year is about,” he told ClutchPoints’ Josue Pavón. “It’s the highest level of basketball. You’re gonna find out exactly what type of player you are. What type of competitor you are and exactly what you need to get better at.”

"That's what this time of year is about. It's the highest level of basketball. You're gonna find out exactly what type of player you are. What type of competitor you are. Exactly what you need to get better at."

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander following the Thunder's double overtime… pic.twitter.com/kusJ1rDFzw

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 19, 2026

The Thunder will attempt to even the series in Game 2 on Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock.

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