Overview
- Oklahoma City opened the series with a 119-84 win as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points with 17 free throws in 29 minutes.
- Online reaction centered on his reliance on foul shots, with critics on X calling the approach boring and flop-reliant.
- Gilgeous-Alexander said he draws whistles because he attacks the rim, noting that most fouls occur on drives.
- He averaged 9.0 free-throw attempts this season, second in the NBA, and 18.8 drives per game, which ranked third, according to NBA.com.
- Jalen Williams scored 22 and Chet Holmgren 16 as OKC readies for Game 2 in Oklahoma City with Phoenix planning adjustments to curb his drives.