Overview
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander powered Oklahoma City’s 119-84 Game 1 win over Phoenix on Sunday, finishing with 25 points and hitting 15 of 17 free throws.
- Gilgeous-Alexander said he draws whistles because he attacks the basket often, noting that most fouls occur on drives.
- Oklahoma City controlled the game with 45% shooting, 28 assists, and 20 combined steals and blocks, a hustle stat often called “stocks.”
- His regular-season profile backs up the approach with 18.8 drives per game (No. 3), 9.0 free-throw attempts (No. 4), a career-best 55.3% field-goal rate, and 12.4 points in the paint per game (third among guards).
- The Thunder host Game 2 on April 22 at 9:30 p.m. ET as they try to build a 2-0 series lead.