Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Highlights Team Depth After Playoff Win

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander highlighted the Oklahoma City Thunder's depth after a challenging game against the Memphis Grizzlies in their playoff series. Despite scoring 27 points, it took him 29 attempts to achieve this. The Thunder led 32-17 at the end of the first quarter and maintained their lead, securing a 118-99 victory. This win gives Oklahoma a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference quarter-final series.

The Thunder's performance in the first two games has been remarkable, with a combined point differential of 70 points. This is the second-highest margin ever recorded in the opening two games of a playoff series, only behind the Los Angeles Lakers' 75-point margin over the San Antonio Spurs in 1986. Despite Gilgeous-Alexander's shooting struggles, with just 32.6% from the floor, his team has supported him well.

Gilgeous-Alexander acknowledged his team's support, saying, "I feel like I'm getting the looks I usually make and just missing them... Because my team is really good, we've won two games by a decent margin." He remains hopeful about improving his performance soon. His regular-season average was an impressive 32.7 points per game on 51.7% shooting.

Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren were key offensive players for Oklahoma in Game 2, scoring 24 and 20 points respectively. The Thunder also had a significant bench contribution, outscoring Memphis' reserves by 33-14, with Alex Caruso adding 13 points. In Game 1, six players scored in double figures, led by Aaron Wiggins' impressive 21 points.

Gilgeous-Alexander praised his teammates for their contributions throughout the season: "It's nothing new... It's why we have the record we have." His overall impact extends beyond scoring; he also contributed eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals in Game 2. The Thunder have outscored Memphis by 40 points when he's on the court during this series.

Alex Caruso commented on Gilgeous-Alexander's influence: "He does so much [more] over the complete course of the game than just scoring for our team... if we're winning games how we're winning them, and he's having average days, I think that bodes well for us forward."

The Thunder's depth has been crucial to their success so far. Their ability to maintain strong performances even when key players face challenges highlights their collective strength as they aim to advance further in the playoffs.