San Francisco-The second game of 50 points of 50 points of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the second in the period of four games, was no reason for celebration.
This is because it happened in a rare defeat for the Oklahoma City Thunder, leader of the West Conference, who fell to the Golden State Warriors 116-109 on Wednesday night despite the fact that Gilgeous-Alexander poured 52 points.
“I stink. I personally, game to win,” Gilgous-Alexander said. “Win comes first, and if I don’t win, I’m not satisfied. So, maybe my 52 points tonight were not the best for the team.”
Gilgous-Alexander became the first league player with multiple 50-point performances this season; He scored 54 points in the career in the house of January 22 over the Jazz of Utah. He joined Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook as the only players in the history of the franchise with multiple 50 -point performances in a season.
Gilgous-Alexander, the NBA scoring leader with 32.5 points per game, finished 16 of 29 from the floor and 18 of 21 of the line, the most free shooting attempts of his career.
“It’s cold,” said the warrior striker Andrew Wiggins. “It’s hard. It can write down the three levels; it reaches the foul line and does not stop. The whole game is with you … we did the best we can.”
Gilgeous-Alxander had an scorching start at the Chase Center when the Thunder (37-9) jumped to an advantage of 14 points in the first quarter, when it had 21 points in 7 of 8 shots from the floor. It was a spectacular exhibition of ball control, body control and shots when Gilgeous-Alexander forged a defense of the gold state that often committed a second defender.
“Sometimes, even when you’re out there, they catch you looking,” said Thunder Jalen Williams, who scored 26 points in 12 of 26 shots. “Because it is reaching places on the floor that you should not be able to be with how defense is protecting it. And it’s just one of those things that you have to leave a little and not get caught looking and prepare to be a way out for him or cut or continue involving the offensive. “
It was the second time in two weeks that Gilgeous-Alexander has surpassed the only help of the opposite team in the first quarter, that no other player in the league has made more than once this season, according to ESPN Research.
In the first instance, the Thunder went to a victory in the burst over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Eastern leaders, on January 16. On Wednesday, Oklahoma City players who are not Gilgeous-Alexander fought to find a rhythm in the last rooms, when the Thunder were sang to 75 points in 37.3% of shots when the Warriors recovered.
“There is probably a trend in those situations in which he is only humming [to get caught watching Gilgeous-Alexander]”Said Thunder Mark Daigneault coach.” But we also have an identity as a team. We have a lot of boys who have confidence. We have to be that team regardless of the context. If you are having a free night, which does not happen often, or if you are having a night like tonight. “
With the Thunder struggling to generate an offensive of others, Daigneault adjusted its rotation in the last quarter to shorten the rest of its superstar. Gilgeous-Alexander registered again with the tied score and 9:55 remaining, approximately three minutes earlier than usual.
“I don’t know what to do with Shai,” said the Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “I asked Mark to leave him in the bank for a couple more minutes, and he didn’t fulfill. I realized Mark and said: ‘You can’t give him as two more minutes. That would be really useful for us.’ ‘ And Mark simply laughed. “
But the Warriors (24-23) moved away by the section. The last two cubes of Gilgeous-Alexander arrived at the last minute when the Warriors were on margins of three possessions.
“I will see the game, I will see where it could have been better and try to win the game is more important for me,” said Gilgous-Alxander. “I am not satisfied. This does not feel as good as the other [50-point performance] He did it due to L. “
Ohm Yongmisuk of ESPN contributed to this report.