Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pointed to physicality and response time as the defining factors in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 118-91 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals.
“They just punched and we didn’t punch back,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, describing how the game shifted after halftime. “They were the aggressors tonight from start to finish.”
The Thunder had controlled stretches of the first half, but the third quarter turned into a decisive swing point. San Antonio produced a 22-0 run while Oklahoma City went scoreless for eight minutes, turning a manageable game into a runaway margin.
“They played harder than us, made more shots, were more aggressive,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We were in attack mode and we were on our heels.”
Oklahoma City entered halftime feeling stable despite allowing early perimeter scoring. The Spurs had already hit 11 three-pointers by that point, but the Thunder still believed the game was within reach.
“We kept it in a manageable spot,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, referencing the first half. “But the second half it just blew out of proportion.”
The Thunder star also addressed the challenge of responding after a major run, pointing to the importance of in-game adjustments rather than waiting for momentum to change naturally.
“Every game is going to present a different challenge,” he said earlier in the series context, emphasizing Oklahoma City’s approach of reacting to adversity within possessions and quarters.
A key storyline was the return of Jalen Williams, who re-entered the rotation in a limited role after a hamstring issue. Gilgeous-Alexander highlighted the difficulty of integrating a key scorer under restrictions during a high-stakes game.
“It’s good to have him back,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We just got to find spots for him to play with the limited time he’s getting.”
The Thunder guard also spoke about his own recent shooting struggles across the series, noting that his shot selection has remained consistent despite a dip in efficiency.
“I’m not too sure to be honest,” he said. “A lot of the shots that I’m shooting I’ve shot plenty of times before and they feel good. They’re just not going in.”
Rather than adjusting away from his approach, Gilgeous-Alexander stressed trust in his routine heading into Game 7.
“It’s too late to abandon my work and abandon my game and who I am,” he said. “This late in the season I got to trust it and live or die by it.”
With the series now tied 3-3, Game 7 shifts to Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will look to stabilize their offensive rhythm and control tempo more consistently across four quarters.
“Anything can happen in a Game 7,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “You have to go out there and be the better basketball team or else your season’s done.”
The Spurs, powered by Victor Wembanyama’s 28-point performance, forced the series decider after dominating the second half in Game 6. Oklahoma City now returns home needing a complete response to extend its title defense.
