NBA Assistant Reportedly Called SGA's Finals Play 'Atrocious' Before Game 4 Comeback
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander not only helped the Oklahoma City Thunder avoid a 3-1 series deficit to the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals with a 111-104 win in Game 4, but he also redeemed himself in the eyes of at least one opposing coach thanks to a dazzling performance on Friday night.
Per The Athletic's Sam Amick, an assistant coach on a rival team texted that Gilgeous-Alexander was "atrocious" in the first half of the game.
"He looks tired," the coach wrote to Amick. "Worn out. Slow. … They haven’t had to double him. It hasn’t been some magical scheme. (The Pacers) have just worn him out with their pressure. They did the same to (the New York Knicks’ Jalen) Brunson (in the Eastern Conference finals). …He’s looked so bad on defense."
While "atrocious" may have been overstating things at least a little bit, Gilgeous-Alexander didn't look like his normal self.
The reigning NBA MVP had 12 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field, but didn't attempt a free throw in 18 first-half minutes. He was also minus-12 during that span. No other player on the Thunder was worse than minus-7 going into the break.
It was the fourth quarter when Gilgeous-Alexander looked like the player who dominated throughout the regular season and in the first three rounds of the playoffs. He scored 15 points, made all eight of his free-throw attempts and was plus-16 in just over 11 minutes during the final period.
The Thunder overcame a 10-point deficit in the second half by outscoring Indiana 31-17 in the fourth quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his Oklahoma City's finall 16 points over the last 4:38 in regulation.
CBS Sports' James Herbert noted Gilgeous-Alexander's 14 points in clutch time are the most on record in a Finals game.
Indiana's full-court defense forced the Thunder to adjust how they brought the ball up the court. The Pacers picked up Gilgeous-Alexander an average of 68 feet away from the basket in Game 3. He shot 9-of-20 from the field and committed a playoff career-high six turnovers in a 116-107 loss.
Oklahoma City adjusted in Game 4 by having other players, primarily Jalen Williams, bring the ball up the floor. Williams responded with his best game of the series, scoring 27 points to keep the Thunder in it for the first three quarters before Gilgeous-Alexander found his rhythm.
The win allowed the Thunder to salvage a split in Indiana and go back home for Game 5 on Monday night with an opportunity to take a 3-2 series lead.
