There is no doubt that Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Toronto, Ontario, Canada got off to a slow start in the 9-10 playoff game on Wednesday. In the opening 24 minutes, he only made three of 10 field goals for seven points, was a -3 and did not have one single free throw attempt.
However in sports, there is a famous saying, it is not always how you start, but how you finish, which matters most. In the second half, you could make the argument that Gilgeous-Alexander’s overall play was electrifying to say the least.
In a span of 21 minutes and 38 seconds worth of action to close out the game, Canada’s finest made eight of 12 field goals, all eight free throw attempts, for 25 points and was a +18. The New Orleans Pelicans tried to double team Gilgeous-Alexander, but it was not enough. The 24-year-old guard who was an All-Star for the first time this season is a major reason why OKC is on their way to Minnesota on Friday with a playoff spot on the line. At the end of the day, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points in a 123-118 Thunder win over the Pelicans.
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Gilgeous-Alexander was not the only Canadian to have an impact for the Thunder. Shooting guard Luguentz Dort of Montreal, Quebec had 27 points. As a unit, the Thunder trailed the Pelicans 63-57 at the half, before outscoring them 66-55 in the second half.
The performances of Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort however were overshadowed on the Canadian basketball scene because of the horrible second half performance by the Toronto Raptors in the 9-10 playoff game in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors actually blew a 19-point lead, had a turnover fest and were brutal from the free throw line, in a 109-105 loss to the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls will now face the Miami Heat on Friday.
