Gilgeous-Alexander scores 42, puts Thunder on verge of sweep PHOENIX — In a dominant display of skill and composure, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in a career playoff-high 42 points to lead his team to a 121-109 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round series. The performance, marked by a near-perfect shooting night and a fiery postgame outburst, put the Thunder on the brink of sweeping the series and securing their third consecutive first-round sweep. With just over seven minutes remaining in the game, Gilgeous-Alexander split two defenders in transition, finishing with a powerful dunk that extended the Thunder’s lead. The moment, captured in a highlight reel, showcased his ability to dominate even under intense defensive pressure. After the play, the 26-year-old Canadian superstar shouted, “I don’t need it!” to his teammates, a rare display of raw emotion for a player known for his calm demeanor. The outburst came after Suns forward Dillon Brooks had criticized Gilgeous-Alexander for “flopping and falling” to draw fouls in Game 2, though the Thunder star dismissed the criticism, stating, “I just think they missed the call, but I scored anyway.” Gilgeous-Alexander’s 42-point effort was a masterclass in efficiency, as he shot 15-of-18 from the field and 11-of-12 from the free-throw line. Half of his free throws came in the final minutes of the game, with the Thunder leading by double digits and the Suns desperate to extend the contest. His ability to thrive under pressure was evident in his shooting breakdown: 14-of-16 on drives, 7-of-8 on open shots, 8-of-10 on contested attempts, and a perfect 3-of-3 on plays where the Suns double-teamed him.#oklahoma_city_thunder #phoenix_suns #shai_gilgeousalexander #jalen_williams #dillon_brooks
Suns' Booker, Brooks Criticize Referees After Game 2 Loss to Thunder The Phoenix Suns faced backlash from their star players following a 120-107 Game 2 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals, which gave the defending champions a 2-0 series lead. Suns guard Devin Booker and forward Dillon Brooks openly criticized the officiating, accusing referees of undermining the integrity of the sport and favoring the Thunder’s star player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Booker, who has played for the Suns since 2015, called the game’s officiating “terrible” and warned that such behavior could erode fan trust in the NBA. Booker’s frustration stemmed from a technical foul called against him in the third quarter, which he claimed was unjust. The call occurred after Booker attempted to prevent an out-of-bounds play by passing the ball to a teammate, only for Oklahoma City’s Jaylin Williams to bump him out of bounds. Booker argued that the referees failed to recognize his defensive effort, instead penalizing him for an infraction that did not occur. “I haven’t called a ref out by name in 11 years,” Booker said, “but tonight, it felt disrespectful. If they’re not held accountable, people will start viewing this as a WWE show.” Brooks, who scored 30 points before fouling out, focused his criticism on the perceived bias toward Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder’s reigning MVP. Brooks accused referees of calling unnecessary fouls on the Canadian guard, particularly during a critical moment in the game. “He’s a little frail, and that’s what the refs are going to call,” Brooks said, referencing Gilgeous-Alexander’s 37-point performance, which included a perfect 9-of-9 free throw shooting.#oklahoma_city_thunder #phoenix_suns #devin_booker #shai_gilgeousalexander #dillon_brooks
