After losing a heartbreaker to the New Orleans Pelicans on a crazy buzzer-beater, the Oklahoma City Thunder were able to turn their fortunes around and win Saturday’s game on a wild buzzer-beater supplied by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in a 104-103 win over the LA Clippers.
It feels like justice has been served for the Thunder and Gilgeous-Alexander after his clutch three from last game was nullified by Devonte’ Graham’s hitting the longest game-winner in NBA history in 25 years. For today’s game, Gilgeous-Alexander’s stepback three completely changed the storyline coming out of this game.
The main storyline for the majority of the game had to do with the fact that Josh Giddey once again came up short of becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. But this time around it would have been extra excruciating as the 19-year-old had the entire fourth quarter to muster up just two points but it never happened.
SHAI CALLED GAME 😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/1bRbqxrzdJ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 19, 2021
This group needed a win like tonight after losing last game in the heartbreaking fashion they did. And if the team is going to win games, it feels much better when it comes off the backs of the young core like it was the case tonight. Winning tonight also stings a little less considering the fact that the Thunder own the Clippers 2022 first round pick with no protections — which means, either way, the Thunder were going to improve its draft position.
The team — and especially Gilgeous-Alexander — needed a game like tonight. And the fact that it came against his former team must have been the cherry on top for the fourth-year-guard. With all that said, let’s take a look at some player grades: