Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder guard, has been named a finalist for the MVP award. However, he remains nonchalant about the announcement, stating that he might not even watch it. The favorite to win the award is Nikola Jokic, who will be claiming his third MVP title. Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to finish either second or third, with Luka Dončić as his main competition.
Interestingly, Gilgeous-Alexander’s stellar performance in Game 1 of the playoff series against Dončić’s Mavericks adds a layer of drama to the MVP race. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to a resounding 117-95 victory with his impressive stat line of 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists. This outstanding performance occurred just hours before the announcement of the MVP award, which raises the question of whether voters will prioritize regular-season performance or playoff success.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s impact on the game was evident from the start. He made crucial plays, including an impressive layup and a baseline fadeaway over Dončić. His ability to control the game with his patience and knack for drawing fouls was on full display. The referees called a tight game in the first half, resulting in a total of 21 fouls and 35 free throws. Gilgeous-Alexander capitalized on this situation by earning himself 11 free throws in the first half alone.
Despite the Thunder’s struggles from beyond the arc and Jalen Williams’ shooting woes, Gilgeous-Alexander proved to be the team’s most valuable player in challenging moments. He turned an otherwise inefficient and vulnerable half into a comfortable 62-53 lead by using his agility and ability to draw contact. In fact, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 19 points in the first half and made nine of his 11 free-throw attempts.
The officiating was a point of contention in the game, with both teams receiving their fair share of fouls and free throws. However, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault commended the officials for their consistency and stated that they called the game fairly. The Thunder pulled away in the third quarter after making strategic substitutions, with Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace, and Aaron Wiggins contributing significantly off the bench. Gilgeous-Alexander, once again, played a crucial role in stabilizing the team and extending their lead with two impressive stepback 3-pointers.
In contrast, Dončić and Kyrie Irving struggled throughout the game, combining for nine turnovers and shooting a combined 33 shots to score 39 points. Dončić, who appeared to be dealing with a sprained knee, had a particularly rough night, scoring only 19 points on 6-of-19 shooting, his lowest point total since mid-March.
Despite suffering some knee-to-knee contact during the game, Gilgeous-Alexander assures that he is fine and will be ready for the rest of the series. With more than a week between series, he is expected to be fresher and continue to make a significant impact on the court.
In conclusion, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s outstanding performance in Game 1 against Luka Dončić and the Mavericks adds intrigue to the MVP race. While Nikola Jokic is the favorite to win the award, Gilgeous-Alexander’s performance highlights his value to his team and raises questions about the importance of playoff success in determining the MVP. Nonetheless, Gilgeous-Alexander remains humble and focused on his team’s success rather than individual accolades.