While Joel Embiid is stuck in the infirmary, the other contenders for the MVP title take the opportunity to show off, and this night, we were treated to a great opposition from a distance between Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The first had just signed a triple-double on 100% shooting, while the second is on the podium of the best scorers in the NBA with an average of 31.1 points. A shock at the top of the Western Conference as the Nuggets and the Thunder try to keep pace with the Wolves.
For a half, we believed that “SGA” would not be able to get rid of the Nuggets defense. Like last December 16. And then, his undermining work paid off, and he flew through the 3rd quarter to allow the Thunder to take off (88-68). We say it, we repeat it: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the “easiest” players. Last night, he rammed Jamal Murray methodically. Even Kentavious Caldwell-Pope couldn't do anything about his false slowness and his changes in pace.
Four units from his personal best
“He is in full possession of his means and he lets the game come to him,” appreciates his coach Mark Daigneault. “He never gives the impression of forcing. He played as he should throughout the match, he made the right passes, he kept the others calm. It's a bit routine with him, but he had a great match. »
Thanks to his heat in the 3rd quarter, “SGA” finished with 40 points, four points shy of his career record. He does it 14 out of 20 on shots, with a 10 out of 10 on free throws. But what we will also remember is his defense on Nikola Jokic. The Canadian often found himself in front of the Serb, and he continued to hinder him with his active hands. He cut Jokic off from his teammates, and he had a lot to do with the Nuggets pivot's lackluster match: 7 lost balls and only 10 shots taken.
Reach the Nuggets level
“He’s a unique player. It doesn't date from this season, and it was already like that last year, or even for two years” testifies Nikola Jokic. “He's putting together good stats, and that's a problem in the NBA… What's good about him is that he only thinks about winning, and he doesn't think about his stats. »
This is a real “problem” for Denver since the Nuggets have nine wins in eleven matches, and the Thunder is the only team to have dominated the NBA champions over this period. And twice in Denver!
“They didn’t win the title by chance and they remain a very good team” recalls Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “We have her in mind every time we play against her. We get up every morning to play against teams like that knowing that they are at the level we want to reach.”
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2018-19 | LAKE | 82 | 27 | 47.6 | 36.7 | 80.0 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 10.8 |
| 2019-20 | OKAY | 70 | 35 | 47.1 | 34.7 | 80.7 | 0.7 | 5.2 | 5.9 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 19.0 |
| 2020-21 | OKAY | 35 | 34 | 50.8 | 41.8 | 80.8 | 0.5 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 23.7 |
| 2021-22 | OKAY | 56 | 35 | 45.3 | 30.0 | 81.0 | 0.7 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 5.9 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 24.5 |
| 2022-23 | OKAY | 68 | 36 | 51.0 | 34.5 | 90.5 | 0.9 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 5.5 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 31.4 |
| 2023-24 | OKAY | 28 | 35 | 54.3 | 30.2 | 90.9 | 0.9 | 4.9 | 5.8 | 6.5 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 31.1 |
| Total | 339 | 33 | 49.0 | 34.3 | 85.2 | 0.7 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 21.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
