Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has sobering take on his crucial error in Game 6
Nov 4, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Saturday committed a foul late that essentially decided his team’s season.
The Thunder lost to the Dallas Mavericks in a 117-116 affair at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The result gave Dallas a 4-2 series win in their Western Conference semifinal matchup.
The Thunder held a 116-115 lead in the closing moments of the contest. With just 2.1 seconds left on the clock, Gilgeous-Alexander fouled Mavericks forward PJ Washington a go-ahead three-point attempt.
The Thunder made the controversial decision to challenge the call and lost. Washington made two of three free throws to seal the Mavs’ series victory.
The usually stoic Gilgeous-Alexander appeared jittery during his postgame press conference when he asked about the decisive foul. The MVP runner-up also admitted that he can’t bear to watch a replay of his miscue just yet.
“I shouldn’t have fouled him,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “We talk about it all year. The little things that go into winning games and being disciplined. It sucks. … I can’t look at [the replay]. I don’t want to look at it.”
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Gilgeous-Alexander carried the Thunder throughout their entire 10-game postseason run.
Gilgeous-Alexander entered Saturday’s contest as the leading scorer in all nine of OKC’s playoff games this season. That didn’t change in Game 6 as the Kentucky alum led all scorers with 36 points and 8 assists on 14/25 shooting.
