"Rose to the moment": Shai Gilgeous-Alexander relives 'playoff feel' NBA Cup QF win vs Mavs
As we approach the finals stage of the Emirates NBA Cup, the stakes are getting higher, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander felt the intensity of the knockout rounds. On Tuesday, the OKC Thunder defeated the Dallas Mavericks 118-104 in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup.
Following the game, Gilgeous-Alexander spoke about the special atmosphere at the Paycom Center and how it elevated the Thunder's game on the night.
"Personally, it had a little bit like a playoff feel. A little bit more at stake than just a regular season game. Proud of the team, proud of the guys. We rose to the moment," said Gilgeous-Alexander.
In what has been an MVP-calibre season so far from the Canadian star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 39 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. He was 5 of 9 from behind the arc and made some clutch shots down the stretch to withstand a late Mavericks rally.
The OKC Thunder will play the winner of the Houston Rockets vs Golden State Warriors quarterfinal, which will take place on Wednesday. Overall, six teams remain in the competition with the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks still alive in the Eastern Conference.
The NBA Cup was introduced last season to add some weight to midseason games and the experiment has been a tremendous success. The players seem to have more on the line, and the win-or-go-home knockout round format adds excitement and intensity to the games.
The LA Lakers won the inaugural NBA Cup tournament in 2023, defeating the Indiana Pacers in the finals. However, the defending champions were eliminated in the group stage this year.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the early season favourites for the MVP crown
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having a fantastic season, contributing in all aspects of the game. Following a strong start to the 2024-25 season, the 26-year old guard has emerged as one of the league MVP frontrunners.
Over 24 games, Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 30.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 6.3 apg, 1.8 spg and 1.0 bpg. The two-time All-Star leads the Thunder roster in points, assists, blocks and minutes, and ranks third in steals. Only Giannis Antetokounmpo (32.7), Nikola Jokic (32.3) and LaMelo Ball (31.1) are averaging more points than the Thunder star.
In 2023, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished fifth in the MVP voting. Last season, he moved up to second behind only Jokic. If he continues to play the way he has, this could be the season Gilgeous-Alexander finally takes home his first MVP crown.