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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder to victory, will play Bucks for NBA Cup

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Clemente Almanza: FINAL: Thunder 111, Rockets 96 SGA – 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists JDub – 20 points,5 rebounds, 5 assists Hartenstein – 21 points, 8 rebounds Dort – 19 points, 9 rebounds Brooks – 14 points, 5 rebounds Sengun – 13 points, 11 rebounds Amen – 19 points OKC is 20-5
Source: x.com

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

StatMuse @statmuse
Shai tonight:
32 PTS
8 REB
6 AST
5 STL
14-15 FT
Led the Thunder in points, assists and steals in the semis. pic.x.com/0PJPi1wVhq – 11:19 PM
Royce Young @royceyoung
Thunder beat the Rockets 111-96 to advance to the Cup final.
– SGA: 32-8-6 + 5 steals
– Hartenstein: 21 and 8 rebounds
– Dub: 20-5-5
– Dort: 19 and 9 rebounds + 3 steals (5-9 from 3)
After a tough offensive first half, OKC scored 70 in the first half. – 11:18 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Giannis and Shai are first and second in
— Points
— Free throws made per game
— 30-point games
Facing off in the Finals. pic.x.com/hCimV4Gd79 – 11:16 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Shai tonight:
32 PTS
8 REB
6 AST
5 STL
14-15 FT
Led the Thunder in points, rebounds, assists and steals in the semis. pic.x.com/Rt6cgfCMre – 11:15 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tonight
32 PTS
8 REB
6 AST
5 STL
1 BLK
1 TO
SGA leads OKC to the NBA Cup Finals. pic.x.com/EpBwsL0wdf – 11:15 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Players with 700+ points:
— Shai
— Giannis
Playing against each other for the NBA Cup. pic.x.com/pbw8hCDNAq – 11:11 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Thunder advance to the NBA Cup Finals.
OKC vs Bucks
SGA and Giannis.
JDub and Dame.
Tuesday.
7:30PM
📺 ABC pic.x.com/XvTPCS6i4h – 11:10 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA play of the game.
JDub reaction of the game.
(@ThunderFilmRoom)
pic.x.com/DgDWOBFZ87 – 11:08 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA crosses up Team Canada teammate Dillon Brooks and finds JDub for an open 3.
5 bounces on the rim later… OKC goes up 15 points. – 10:58 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
OH MY GOD SGA JUST TURNED DILLON BROOKS INTO A PRETZEL – 10:58 PM
Royce Young @royceyoung
Awesome answer to shooting adversity by SGA. Struggled early (started 2-12) but has kept attacking, hitting 6 of his last 8. – 10:53 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Thunder star duo SGA and JDub icing the game for OKC down the stretch.
Thunder up 92-79.
6 minutes to go. – 10:53 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has his 13th 30 point game of the season.
SGA is #2 in most 30 point games behind possible NBA Cup Finals opponent Giannis with 15. – 10:52 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
That’s just a big time shot by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. – 10:52 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Dillon Brooks returns and immediately picks up his fifth foul on an SGA 3-point attempt. Udoka sticks with Brooks with seven minutes left. – 10:50 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Thunder 75, Rockets 69 after three, OKC’s largest lead. SGA had 12 in the first half, 12 in the third quarter. Rockets making 35.7% of their shots. Season low is 35.6%. OKC has made six more free throws and leads by six. – 10:33 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Thunder up 75-69.
SGA had 12 points in the 3rd quarter.
12 minutes to clinch a spot in the NBA Cup Finals. – 10:33 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams coming in hot out of the half.
SGA and JDub have OKC’s last 12 points.
Thunder up 60-56. – 10:19 PM
Steve Aschburner @AschNBA
Fittingly for Las Vegas, the OKC-HOU NBA Cup semifinal has been a game of chance from the 3-point line, the teams shooting a combined 6/37 (.162) in the first half.
Defense reigns, with the Rockets up 42-41 halfway through. SGA 12 pts on 3/12 shooting. Thompson 13 for HOU. – 9:55 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Rockets 42, Thunder 41 at half. Thompson with 13. Rockets starters with 17. SGA started to turn back into SGA. He has 12, but is 3 of 12. – 9:49 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Steals at half:
4 — Shai
3 — Houston Rockets pic.x.com/05pdr8Emf9 – 9:49 PM

Stephen Noh @StephNoh
Look at how Amen is guarding Shai. The guy is barely on the broadcast and Amen is still glued to him. pic.x.com/mkIoBOixdJ – 9:16 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has 4 steals in the first 4 minutes. – 8:57 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Thunder starters vs Rockets
SGA
Wallace
Dort
JDub
Hartenstein
Winner advances to the NBA Cup Finals. – 8:03 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Thunder vs Rockets winner will face the Bucks on Tuesday for the NBA Cup Finals.
If OKC wins tonight, we’d see two top 3 current MVP candidates face off in SGA and Giannis. – 7:07 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Houston Rockets, other semifinalists agree: NBA Cup already has bona fide esteem. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: “It’s what dreams are all about.”
houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets… – 11:13 AM

More on this storyline

To some, it already means plenty. “It would mean a lot,” Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s an opportunity to win, play the game at a high level. As a kid, you tie your shoes up, play AAU ball to win a tournament, go to college, try to win the NCAA Tournament or a tournament at the beginning of the season. You’re always trying to win. “As a kid growing up, you watch the Celtics play the Lakers; you watch Miami against Cleveland. You watch marquee matchups. You watch big games. To be in this position is special. You don’t take it for granted. It’s pretty sweet to be showcased in a way. It’s what dreams are all about. To have them come true is special.” -via Houston Chronicle / December 14, 2024
“Film, for me, opens my eyes,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s right in your face. The writing is on the wall. If I should’ve been in this spot, it’s right in front of your face that you should’ve been in that spot. If I should’ve took a shot and I was passive-aggressive, it’s right in front of my face. “For me, it’s not even really being critical.” -via The Oklahoman / December 12, 2024