At the Paycom Center, an immediate response was required. After two straight losses, the Oklahoma City Thunder were on the verge of another misstep, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander decided it wasn’t the night to collapse.
With an ice-cold jumper at the end of regulation, the Thunder star revived a game that seemed lost, paving the way for a 129-125 overtime win over the Utah Jazz.
Down eight in the fourth quarter and coming off a negative run that had erased a 20-point first-half lead, the Thunder found their absolute reference point in their leader.
With 3.2 seconds left, after a Lauri Markkanen putback had given Utah a 114-112 lead, Gilgeous-Alexander took on the heaviest responsibility: pull-up from the free-throw line area, bucket, and the game tied at 114.
Postgame, Mark Daigneault emphasized not just the talent, but above all SGA’s mental approach in decisive moments.
The most impressive thing is how natural he looks in every circumstance. He’s the same player at the start of the game and in the final seconds. He doesn’t change pace, he doesn’t waver. That’s why he’s one of the best players under pressure. That play was huge, and down the stretch he was simply extraordinary.
Mark Daigneault
Words that perfectly capture the identity of Shai Gilgeous-Alexandercapable of being dominant without ever giving in to emotion, even when the full weight of the game rests on his shoulders.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s performance was all-encompassing: 46 pointsa season high, on 14/26 shooting, 17/19 from the free-throw lineand a tough night from three (1/8) offset by flawless poise when it mattered most. He also added 6 assists, 6 rebounds, a block, and a stealconfirming a 360-degree impact.
After the heavy loss to Charlotte, it was Gilgeous-Alexander himself who had called for a response. Against Utah, it wasn’t a perfect game – but it was a clear show of character. The Thunder defense raised its level late, and in overtime their ability to close without panicking came to the surface.
For Daigneault, this win means far more than a routine regular-season victory: it’s confirmation that OKC knows it can rely on its leader when the margin for error is zero.
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