OKLAHOMA CITY — After beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 in Sport 1, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander mirrored on his management fashion following his Western Convention Closing debut. It was his first time taking part in in a third-round sequence. Gilgeous-Alexander vowed to unravel the Timberwolves’ issues all through the best-of-7 sequence after Minnesota held the MVP candidate to 10-of-27 makes an attempt within the sequence opener.
Nonetheless, the Thunder prevailed. Gilgeous-Alexander’s 31 factors led the cost. Nevertheless, for Gilgeous-Alexander, his teammates stepped as much as safe a 26-point blowout win, which transitioned the subject from Sport 1 to Gilgeous-Alexander’s strategy because the staff’s chief.
“It’s true to my persona. I’m not all the time the loudest man within the room or say an excessive amount of, however my power and energy, and what I placed on the ground, converse louder than something,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “That’s simply how I not solely go concerning the recreation, but additionally go about life. Actions all the time converse louder than phrases. To me, particularly. That’s simply how I’m going about it.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on how he leads his staff by instance:
“It’s true to my persona. I’m not all the time the loudest man within the room or say an excessive amount of however my power and energy, and what I placed on the ground, speaks louder than something… actions all the time converse louder than phrases” pic.twitter.com/RMapb6FXHD
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) Might 21, 2025
Gilgeous-Alexander completed with a team-high 31 factors, but it surely took him 27 makes an attempt to get there. His 11-of-14 free throws made up for his lackluster taking pictures.
Nevertheless, Gilgeous-Alexander revealed there can be a Sport 2 adjustment. SGA revealed it throughout his walk-off interview, per ESPN’s Lisa Salters.
“I’m gonna hold {that a} secret and never let the world know so [the Timberwolves] don’t see it,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “However we all know what we acquired to do.”
“I am gonna hold {that a} secret and never let the world know so [the Wolves] do not see it.”
SGA not sharing what OKC’s engaged on forward of Sport 2 🤫 pic.twitter.com/iSxSPsTZz2
— ESPN (@espn) Might 21, 2025
The Thunder has a 1-0 lead within the Western Convention Finals.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vows to ‘resolve’ issues after Thunder win
Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander says problem-solving performs a signature half in basketball, particularly within the postseason amid a best-of-7 sequence in opposition to the Timberwolves within the Western Convention Finals. Coming off a seven-game sequence in opposition to the Nuggets, there was loads of adjusting for Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder of their sequence opener.
Gilgeous-Alexander addressed the Timberwolves’ defensive strategy in Sport 1.
“Looks like slightly extra bodily, however on the finish of the night time, it’s basketball. They throw you an issue, you must resolve it, no matter it appears to be like like. That’s what it’s each night time. That’s what it was tonight. That they had totally different coverages, totally different personnel on the market, and now we have to assault it and work collectively as a unit to unravel the issues, and we did that tonight,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned.
Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will host the Timberwolves in Sport 2 on Thursday, aiming to take a 2-0 lead.