Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did what he could, and for three quarters it at least made Oklahoma City’s night look competitive. He kept finding pockets in the mid-range, snaking around defenders and getting to his spots while the Thunder tried to survive a new stretch of reality without the full group around him. In the end, though, the effort from their star wasn’t enough in a 119-98 loss to the Houston Rockets.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 26 points on 10-of-20 shooting, adding four rebounds, three assists and one steal. He went 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and made 3-of-4 at the line. The scoring came in a variety of ways, but the message was the same: he was carrying the load almost by himself.
The Thunder’s current situation is a sharp change from just a week ago, when Gilgeous-Alexander had two All-NBA teammates and an All-Defensive member in the starting lineup. Now all three are gone, and this version of Oklahoma City is going to be the one the team lives with for the next two-plus months. That’s the reality the Thunder are trying to manage now, and it showed against a Rockets team that could absorb whatever Oklahoma City threw at it.
One notable shift in Gilgeous-Alexander’s game has been his shot diet early this season. The drives to the rim have been far less frequent than they were in previous years, when he led the league in that category.
That change also helps explain the drop in his free throw numbers. The points are still coming, but they’re coming in a different way.
Even so, the bigger picture remains the same. Gilgeous-Alexander is likely to keep Oklahoma City afloat enough to win its share of games, but this was another reminder that the short-handed version of the Thunder isn’t built to go toe-to-toe with the top teams. The goal now is simply to stay above water until help might return.
"I don’t know. Yeah, I don’t know," Gilgeous-Alexander said.
"We have some figuring out to do for sure. A lot of it."
In Other News...
Russell Westbrook Still Feels Like A Thunder Moment Fans Needed
Russell Westbrooks place in Oklahoma City was never really in question, but the Thunder made it official by announcing they will retire his No. 0 jersey in January. It is a fitting next chapter for a player who spent 11 seasons with the franchise and helped define an era that still looms large over the organization.
Westbrook responded with the kind of emotion that has always matched the bond he built there, expressing deep appreciation for the city and its people. The ceremony will be a chance to honor not just his production on the floor, but the lasting imprint he left on the franchise and the community that embraced him from the start. [Read more 🡒]
Shai Just Gave Thunder Fans A Reason To Exhale
After a rough two-game skid and a growing injury list, the Thunder finally found a way to steady themselves in a 117-112 win over the Cavaliers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carried the load with 43 points, but this was more than a one-man rescue act. Oklahoma City also leaned on a handful of rookies and two-way players who gave the bench real substance at a time when the rotation needed it most.
The result mattered not just because it snapped the losing streak, but because it showed the Thunder can still survive nights when the margins are thin and the roster is stretched. Cleveland kept pushing, and the game stayed tight into the final minute, but Oklahoma City had enough poise and enough help to finish it off. For a team trying to keep its footing through injuries, that kind of response can calm a lot of nerves. [Read more 🡒]
Former Sixer Dalen Terry Just Landed An Intriguing New Chance
After getting waived by the Warriors at the end of training camp, Dalen Terry has found a new landing spot with Oklahoma City, a move that gives the Thunder another look at a former first-round pick who is still trying to carve out a role. Terry also left Golden States G League affiliate to make the switch, and for a team with an open roster spot, the timing fits a need for more wing depth.
The Thunder have been working through a stretch of long-term injury absences, which has made every added body matter a little more than usual. Terry is expected to arrive on a non-guaranteed deal at the veteran minimum, giving Oklahoma City a low-risk chance to see whether he can provide useful minutes while the roster remains in flux. [Read more 🡒]