SGA’s 38-Point Finals Opener: A Reality Check for the Thunder’s Superstar
The script couldn’t have been written any better for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder through 47 minutes and 59.7 seconds of Game 1. Then Tyrese Haliburton happened.
What should have been SGA’s triumphant Finals debut—a 38-point masterpiece that had his team comfortably ahead for virtually the entire game—instead turned into a stark reminder that even MVPs aren’t immune to basketball’s cruelest turn of events. One moment the Thunder were staring at a 1-0 series lead, the next they were shell-shocked as Haliburton’s game-winner splashed through the net.
For Gilgeous-Alexander, a player who has methodically ascended to superstardom with the precision of a Swiss watchmaker, this wasn’t just a loss—it was a wake-up call that may force him to reconsider his approach to closing games on the NBA’s biggest stage.
The Aggressive SGA: 38 Points Wasn’t Enough
When you look at SGA’s statline—38 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals—you’d think we’d be discussing a dominant victory. Those are championship-caliber numbers from a championship-caliber player. Yet somehow, it wasn’t enough.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s approach was unmistakably aggressive. He hunted his shots, attacked mismatches, and played with the confidence of someone who knows they’re the best player on the floor. This wasn’t the sometimes-too-unselfish SGA we’ve occasionally seen during the regular season. This was a player determined to put his stamp on the Finals.
The problem? The rest of the Thunder offense became spectators. Jalen Williams managed just 17 points on an inefficient 6-of-19 shooting. Chet Holmgren, the unicorn who had been so impactful throughout the playoffs, contributed a measly 6 points and 6 rebounds. It felt eerily reminiscent of those 2018 Houston Rockets games where James Harden would drop 40 while everyone else stood around watching the show.
The Fourth Quarter Collapse
Let’s talk about that fourth quarter. The Thunder entered with a comfortable double-digit lead—up 15 at one point—and seemed in complete control. But as the game wound down, their offense devolved into a predictable pattern: clear out for SGA and hope for the best.
It’s a strategy that’s worked all season against lesser opponents, but against a Pacers team with nothing to lose and everything to gain, it became their undoing. Indiana’s defense loaded up, forcing difficult shots, and the Thunder’s offensive rhythm disappeared entirely.
The analytics tell the story: the Pacers had just a 3.6% chance of winning with 2:42 left in the game. For context, that’s about the same odds as the 2016 Warriors had of blowing their 3-1 Finals lead to Cleveland. Sometimes the improbable becomes reality.
The Historical Context of Game 1 Losses
History doesn’t provide much comfort for the Thunder. About 70% of teams that win Game 1 of the Finals go on to win the championship. But there’s a silver lining—only 47% of road teams that steal Game 1 ultimately capture the title.
The Thunder have been in this position before, albeit with a different cast. Back in 2012, a young Oklahoma City squad led by Kevin Durant lost Game 1 of the Finals against the Miami Heat before… well, let’s just say things didn’t end well for them.
But this isn’t 2012, and SGA isn’t KD. What makes this situation different is how the Thunder have responded to losses all season. They’ve only dropped 19 games total in 2024-25, and they’ve typically bounced back with vengeance. More importantly, until this game, they hadn’t lost a single playoff contest.
SGA’s Leadership Moment
“It’s a 48-minute game,” Gilgeous-Alexander said in his post-game comments. No excuses, no finger-pointing—just the cold, hard truth that victories aren’t secured until the final buzzer sounds.
This is where great players become legends. Michael Jordan’s early playoff failures against the Pistons shaped his championship mentality. LeBron’s 2011 collapse against Dallas transformed him into the closer he’d become in 2016. Even Giannis had to absorb painful defeats before claiming his title.
For SGA, this loss represents that critical juncture where he must decide: does he double down on hero ball, or does he recalibrate to bring his teammates along for the journey?
The Thunder’s Youth Factor
We can’t ignore the elephant in the room—this Thunder team is absurdly young. Their core rotation features players who would still be carded at most establishments. SGA, at 26, is practically the elder statesman.
Youth brings energy, fearlessness, and athleticism. It also brings inexperience in the moments that matter most. The Thunder have been touted as the NBA’s next great dynasty, but dynasties aren’t built on potential alone—they’re forged through adversity.
Remember those mid-2010s Warriors teams before their first championship? All talent, all fun, all highlights—until they learned how to win when it mattered. The Thunder are at that inflection point now.
Adjustments for Game 2
So where does SGA go from here? The easy answer is “keep doing what you’re doing,” but championship basketball is rarely about easy answers.
The most likely adjustment involves finding ways to keep his teammates engaged throughout the game. When Williams and Holmgren are touching the ball consistently, they stay in rhythm for those crucial fourth quarter possessions. When they’ve been spectating for long stretches, expecting them to suddenly hit big shots is like asking someone to parallel park after they’ve been in the passenger seat for an hour.
The Thunder also need to address their defensive intensity in the second half. They forced 19 turnovers in Game 1—an impressive number—but their defensive pressure waned as the game progressed. The Pacers started finding seams that weren’t there in the first half, getting cleaner looks and building confidence.
The Pressure of Expectations
Perhaps the most challenging adjustment for SGA has nothing to do with X’s and O’s, but rather the weight of expectations. When Shaquille O’Neal declares you “the next face of the NBA,” as he recently did for Gilgeous-Alexander, that brings a different level of scrutiny.
Suddenly, every missed shot in the fourth quarter isn’t just a missed opportunity—it’s evidence for the “not clutch” narrative. Every defensive lapse isn’t just a mistake—it’s proof you’re “not a two-way player.” This is the double-edged sword of superstardom that SGA must now navigate.
The Thunder weren’t supposed to be here yet. Their timeline was accelerated by SGA’s meteoric rise and the rapid development of their young core. But now that they are here, the expectations have shifted from “happy to be in the conversation” to “championship or bust.”
The Series Outlook
One game doesn’t define a series, but it certainly sets the tone. The Pacers have grabbed home-court advantage and, more importantly, planted seeds of doubt in the Thunder’s previously unshakeable confidence.
For SGA and the Thunder, Game 2 becomes less about strategy and more about character. How do you respond when the fairy tale beginning gets snatched away? Do you press harder, trying to force your will on the game? Or do you trust the process that brought you here, making small adjustments while maintaining your identity?
If history teaches us anything about great players, it’s that they use these moments as fuel. Jordan had the Pistons. Bird had the Lakers. Durant had the Spurs. And now, SGA has the Pacers and Haliburton.
The difference between very good players and all-time greats often comes down to how they respond in these precise moments. Does the setback break them, or does it forge them into something stronger?
For Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Game 1 wasn’t just a basketball lesson—it was a leadership test. And while he may have fallen short in the final seconds, the true measure will be what happens next. The great ones always find a way to answer back.
The Thunder have learned they can’t coast even when leading for 47 minutes and 59.7 seconds. In the Finals, nothing is given. Everything must be taken—and protected—until the final buzzer sounds.