Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Dominates Thunder-Suns Game 3 as Oklahoma City Nears Playoff Sweep The Oklahoma City Thunder extended their first-round playoff dominance with a 121-109 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 3, taking a 3-0 series lead. The win solidified the Thunder’s 11-0 record in first-round playoff games over the past three seasons and highlighted Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s historic performance. Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning Kia MVP, scored a career-playoff-high 42 points, shooting 15-for-18 from the field and 11-for-12 from the free-throw line, while adding eight assists. His efficiency—true shooting percentage over 90%—made him just the seventh player in NBA history to achieve a 40-point playoff game with such a mark. The Thunder’s ability to score efficiently against a top-10 defensive unit in the regular season underscored their dominance, as they outscored the Suns by 12 points per 100 possessions in the series. Gilgeous-Alexander’s mid-range mastery was a key factor in the Thunder’s success. This season, he shot 54.9% from mid-range and beyond the arc, the fourth-best mark for a player with at least 300 attempts in the past 29 seasons, trailing only Kevin Durant. In Game 3, he was 6-for-7 from mid-range, with his most impactful work occurring in the final six minutes of the second quarter. The Suns, attempting to contain him, shifted their defensive focus, assigning starting center Oso Ighodaro to guard him for stretches. Gilgeous-Alexander exploited this by targeting Devin Booker in pick-and-roll actions, drawing fouls and creating open shots for teammates. For example, he beat Ighodaro off the dribble, drew a foul on Booker, and set up an open 3-pointer for Jaylin Williams.#oklahoma_city_thunder #phoenix_suns #devin_booker #shai_gilgeousalexander #osso_ighodaro
