Stephon Castle spoke on the difference between guarding SGA and Jalen Brunson when it comes to their foul-drawing capabilities. “Jalen likes to use angles a lot more, pump fakes. Get to his spots. Not really trying to draw fouls as much, trying to get to his midrange and spots where he likes,” he said, per SNY Knicks on X.

Jalen Brunson spent a lot of time being defended by Spurs guard Stephon Castle, who had a strong defensive series against reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of OKC in the Western Conference Finals. Stephon Castle played a great role there, preventing the MVP from shining.

Brunson and Shai utilizing physicality in different ways

The propensity of Gilgeous-Alexander to embellish contact and get to the free-throw line has been a major talking point throughout these playoffs, with some fans opining that the Thunder star was not being “ethical” in his scoring habits.

Jalen Brunson has been known to sell a call or two in his own time, but he still had plenty of complaints for the refs during and after the game on Wednesday, hitting the deck numerous times without getting a whistle. Furthermore, Jalen Brunson is quite physical when it comes to gaining space against his opponent, but he does not usually flop or simulate fouls.

The Spurs will want to keep Stephon Castle on Jalen Brunson defensively as much as possible moving forward in hopes of limiting the Knicks star to similar inefficient evenings as he had on Wednesday night.

Castle thinks they are better

Stephon Castle and the Spurs will need to go back to the drawing board for their game plan on Jalen Brunson. The southpaw had a game-high 30 points along with three rebounds and two assists, helping the Knicks overcome a 14-point deficit.

Not surprisingly, Stephon Castle isn’t panicking after one game. He thought San Antonio’s lack of collective postseason experience may have been a hindrance in the opener.

“We feel like we’re the better team,” he said. “We didn’t play well and still had a chance to win. … If we take one thing from that, just going back to being ourselves.” Game 2 of the NBA Finals is set for Friday evening in San Antonio.

The insightful update was shared on X by ESPN’s senior NBA insider Tim MacMahon. “I was told though that Shai was playing a little bit coy there,” the veteran reporter stated. MacMahon then elaborated on the guard’s quiet strategy, adding: “He will at least remind Sam Presti and the Thunder management just how much he values having Lu Dort as his teammate.”

Lu Dort is one of two key players the Thunder need to negotiate with to navigate the team’s complex salary cap restrictions. Both critical pieces hold expensive team options that place the front office in an incredibly difficult position regarding long-term luxury tax penalties.

Is Dort necessary for the Thunder?

Gilgeous-Alexander is highly determined to keep his teammate. Throughout the most recent regular season, Dort remained a vital mainstay in the starting lineup, averaging 8.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while facing the opposition’s top scoring threats

Dort extensive postseason background ensures that he can keep helping the Thunder reach another deep playoff run and potentially capture an elusive championship ring. His unique chemistry with the core roster makes him an invaluable asset for head coach Mark Daigneault.

The veteran defender made his ultimate desires perfectly clear during his exit interviews on May 31, expressing total confidence in management. “I’m really grateful for all the stuff that Sam did for me until this point, and obviously I want to stay here,” Dort passionately stated to the media.

With Jalen Williams surviving in only one full game of the Thunder’s seven-game series, due to a recurring left hamstring injury, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander highlighted the void left in Jalen Williams’ absence during the Thunder’s exit interviews on Sunday.

“Not having Dub for the whole year, basically, sucked. He’s just such a unicorn out there,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He’s a 20-point-per-game scorer, guards 1 through 5. Last season, he got All-NBA for offense, All-NBA for defense, and was an All-Star all in the same season at maybe 24 years old. Losing a guy like that just hurts. He’s just uber talented. Having that Swiss Army Knife 24/7 is a luxury. We just didn’t have that luxury this time, and sometimes it just goes like that.”

The differential numbers during the matchup

Without Jalen Williams, the Spurs put the defensive clamps on All-Star Chet Holmgren, challenging the rest of the Thunder starters to rise to the occasion as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 35 points were met with Cason Wallace’s 17 points against a Spurs offense where seven players scored in double digits. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace were the only Thunder starters who scored in double figures.

On the side of the winners, and with plenty of reasons and arguments, Victor Wembanyama’s 22 points led San Antonio. Julian Champagnie finished with 22 points, and point guard Stephon Castle added 16 points.

Shai recognizes it was a failure

Despite another MVP season and another deep playoff run, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was not interested in celebrating individual accomplishments after the loss. During Oklahoma City’s exit interviews, the two-time MVP delivered a brutally honest assessment of his season.

“It was a failure. I failed at my goal. I didn’t achieve what I wanted to achieve. But in my experience, I learn the most about myself and make the biggest improvements in my career when I fail at a goal and don’t get what I want. I look at this no differently. I didn’t get where I wanted to go this season. There’s a reason for that.”

“Now I have to identify that reason and make sure it never happens again.” It is a mindset that helps explain why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has become one of the NBA’s elite superstars. Individually, there was almost nothing left for him to accomplish this season.

The defeat was particularly painful given the Thunder’s position as defending champions and favorites entering the decisive matchup. Oklahoma City had home-court advantage and the experience of last year’s title run, but San Antonio delivered when it mattered most to complete the series comeback.

Following the game, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made it clear that the focus must now shift toward learning from the disappointment and preparing for another championship push. “They were just the better team tonight from start to finish. Hats off to them. They played better and deserved to win. We just have to take it one day at a time from here on out. Try to get better this summer and be a better team than we were this season and last season. Just try to get over the hump.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander believes Spurs have what it takes to win NBA title

While the loss was difficult to accept, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had nothing but praise for the team that ended Oklahoma City’s season. The Thunder star acknowledged that San Antonio earned its place in the NBA Finals and possesses many of the qualities necessary to win a championship. “They have the makeup for sure. You don’t beat us without the makeup and we’re here. They got the makeup to go get a championship.”

The comments carry significant weight considering Oklahoma City was widely viewed as one of the strongest teams in the league. For Gilgeous-Alexander, the Spurs proved their legitimacy by defeating a defending champion in a pressure-packed seven-game series.

He continued his praise by highlighting what makes San Antonio such a dangerous opponent heading into the Finals against the New York Knicks. “They’re young and they’re talented. They’re well-coached and play the right way.”

The accomplishment places Gilgeous-Alexander in extremely rare company. The only point guards in NBA history to score 35 or more points in a Conference Finals Game 7 are Stephen Curry on May 30, 2016, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on May 30, 2026.

For Gilgeous-Alexander, the performance was another example of his ability to carry a team deep into the postseason. With everything on the line, he answered the challenge and produced one of the most memorable games of his playoff career, further cementing his reputation as one of the league’s elite guards.

How dominant was SGA in 2026?

Throughout the 2026 NBA Playoffs, Gilgeous-Alexander was the driving force behind Oklahoma City‘s success. He consistently led the offense, created scoring opportunities for teammates, and delivered in high-pressure situations. Night after night, he looked every bit like a superstar capable of leading a championship contender.

The comparison to Curry is significant because both players reached this milestone while serving as the unquestioned leaders of their teams. Curry‘s Game 7 performance in 2016 became part of his legendary playoff résumé, and Gilgeous-Alexander now has a moment of his own that will be remembered for years.

Regardless of the final outcome of the season, this playoff run should only strengthen Gilgeous-Alexander moving forward. Great players often use both success and disappointment as fuel, and there is little reason to believe this experience will be any different.

But despite scoring 32 points and helping OKC take a 3-2 series lead, the Thunder superstar made it very clear after the game that he still believes he can play at an even higher level.

During a postgame interview with NBC, Gilgeous-Alexander was asked a simple question: “When are you going to think you had a good game?” His response immediately went viral because of how demanding he continues to be with himself despite dominating throughout the postseason. “When I have a good game.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander credits Thunder teammates after Game 5 win

The quote perfectly captured the mentality that has turned Shai Gilgeous-Alexander into one of the NBA’s most dangerous playoff performers. Even after another huge scoring night, the Thunder star clearly believes there is still another level he can reach. That’s a terrifying thought for the Spurs heading into Game 6 and potentially for the New York Knicks ahead of the NBA Finals.

While Shai’s confidence and self-expectations stole headlines, the MVP candidate also made sure to praise the rest of the Thunder roster for helping secure the crucial victory. Gilgeous-Alexander admitted he struggled badly early in the game before Oklahoma City’s depth helped stabilize the team.

“We just played to who we were tonight. I might have had the worst start to a basketball game in my career, but the group held it down and kept us in the game. That’s just a testament to the guys in the locker room. We’re a group of 1 through 15. We wouldn’t be this deep in the season without the guys and everybody on the team.”

Thunder are just one win away of the NBA Finals

That balance between superstar talent and team chemistry has become one of the biggest reasons many analysts now view Oklahoma City as a legitimate championship favorite. Even when Gilgeous-Alexander struggles, the Thunder continue finding contributions throughout the roster.

Now the pressure shifts to Game 6, where the Spurs will attempt to keep their season alive against a Thunder team that suddenly looks more confident, and perhaps even more dangerous, than ever. If Gilgeous-Alexander truly believes he still has another gear to reach, the rest of the NBA may have a serious problem on its hands.

“I don’t expect their fans to love me. It’s not how it works. They want their team to win. It’s that simple,” Gilgeous-Alexander noted during his post-game press conference. He maintained a calm demeanor despite being targeted by the crowd every time he touched the ball.

When asked if the aggressive Spurs environment served as extra motivation, Shai was quick to dismiss the impact of the crowd’s antics on his performance. “It does nothing. Doesn’t fuel me, doesn’t discourage me. I’ve been dealing with it for a long time. I don’t really hear it,” he explained.

The fan pressure didn’t work

The noise certainly didn’t slow down the Thunder‘s offense, which saw Shai rack up 26 points and 12 assists while his team’s bench outscored San Antonio’s reserves. Oklahoma City has successfully turned the defensive intensity up a notch, swarming Victor Wembanyama and holding the French star to 8-of-15 shooting.

By utilizing a physical, multi-layered defensive scheme, the Thunder have managed to disrupt the Spurs’ rhythm and force secondary options like Devin Vassell into difficult shots. The strategy has effectively neutralized the “Wemby factor” for long stretches, allowing Oklahoma City to regain control of the series.

Looking ahead, a win in Game 4 would give the Thunder a commanding 3-1 lead, making their potential return to the Paycom Center a massive advantage to close out the series and return to the NBA Finals as title defenders.

Shai spoke about the difficulty of navigating the paint against the Spurs‘ star during Game 1, the video was shared on X by Justin Martinez. “He’s very tall, very long and he deters a lot of things at the rim. You’ve got to be smart when you go in there. Be patient, but also be aggressive and don’t be too timid,“ Gilgeous-Alexander noted.

While he hinted at potential adjustments for the next matchup, Shai was careful not to reveal too much to the media before Wednesday’s game. “I probably wouldn’t want to say in public because I don’t want to give any answers away. But yeah, it’s obviously challenging,” he added, emphasizing that his team must find a way to remain aggressive without losing their composure.

Can the Thunder stop Wembanyama?

Wembanyama was an unstoppable force in Game 1, putting up a historic performance with 41 points and 24 rebounds to lead San Antonio to a 122-115 road victory. His ability to hit a logo three-pointer to force second overtime while simultaneously recording 3 blocks showed exactly why he is considered the most unique defensive and offensive threat in the NBA playoffs.

The Spurs rely heavily on Wembanyama to anchor their entire system, and his 41-point outburst proved that he can take over a game even against elite defenders like Chet Holmgren. For Oklahoma City, the primary goal for Game 2 will be finding a way to draw the big man away from the rim to create high-percentage opportunities that were missing in the opener.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who struggled with a 7-of-23 shooting night under Wembanyama’s shadow, will need to be the catalyst for this change by using his midrange game to keep the defense honest. If the Thunder can master the balance of patience and aggression that Shai mentioned, they have the talent to level the series before it shifts to San Antonio on Friday.

“I knew I was around there, but I didn’t know exactly how many,” Gilgeous-Alexander revealed during the post-game press conference. “Once I heard the crowd, I was like, ‘OK, that must have been it’”.

The record-breaking moment occurred at the 7:04 mark of the third quarter. After receiving an assist from Cason Wallace, Gilgeous-Alexander knocked down a signature foot-jumper to cross the 20-point threshold for the night. The Paycom Center immediately exploded in celebration, signaling to the Canadian guard that he had officially made history.

Chamberlain had held the record for 63 years, having recorded 126 consecutive 20-point games between 1961 and 1963. The achievement adds to an already legendary resume for Gilgeous-Alexander, who is the reigning NBA champion, Finals MVP, and regular-season MVP.

The Thunder currently sit atop the Western Conference with an impressive 52–15 record. Gilgeous-Alexander remains the focal point of the team’s success, ranking second in the league in scoring with 31.8 points per game, while contributing 4.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists through 55 appearances this season.

SGA credits team culture for individual success

While Gilgeous-Alexander’s resume now includes an NBA Championship, a Finals MVP, and a regular-season MVP, he was quick to deflect praise toward the Thunder organization and his teammates.

“Basketball is a five-man sport. You can’t win by yourself,” he said. “You need great teammates, great role players, a great coach. I like to think we have all of those. None of the things I accomplished would matter if we weren’t winning. And I probably wouldn’t have most of them if we weren’t winning. That’s why you play the game”.

Last season, the Thunder recorded a total of 84 victories across the regular season and playoffs, culminating in an NBA Championship following a 4–3 series win over the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals.

So far this season, the team has already tallied 52 wins. With Shai continuing to perform at an elite level, that total is expected to climb significantly as the franchise looks to defend its title.

Despite facing bouts of inconsistency this season, the Knicks left a strong impression during the narrow defeat, showcasing the resilient attitude that has them sitting third in the Eastern Conference. Speaking with reporters post-game, Gilgeous-Alexander did not hesitate to label New York a formidable postseason threat.

“Good team. Obviously, a good offense, then they have really good defenders up there as well, so they’re well-balanced,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They’re obviously [near] the top of the East for a reason. They’re a good team, playoff team. Really good roster”.

The Knicks went into the locker room trailing by 10 and appeared to be in deep trouble when the Thunder extended their lead to 63-48 early in the third quarter. However, New York responded with an incredible 24-9 run, capped by a Jalen Brunson triple, to take an 80-77 lead into the final frame.

While Oklahoma City managed to regain the lead early in the fourth and hold on for the win, the performance served as a statement of character for the Knicks. Their ability to battle back against the defending champions reinforced their status as title contenders—a sentiment echoed by Gilgeous-Alexander’s assessment from the floor.

Knicks starters struggle with efficiency

While the Knicks showcased impressive collective resilience during their comeback effort against the Thunder, the individual performances of the starting unit told a story of shooting struggles. Despite the narrow 103-100 defeat, the contest highlighted a disparity in efficiency among New York’s primary rotation.

Karl-Anthony Towns was the clear standout for the home side, dominating the interior to finish with a double-double. Towns was nearly automatic from the floor, scoring 17 points on a remarkably efficient 7-of-8 shooting while cleaning up the glass with 17 rebounds before eventually fouling out late in the fourth quarter.

In contrast, the rest of the starting lineup found it difficult to find their rhythm. Jalen Brunson facilitated the offense at an elite level, dishing out a season-high 15 assists, but his scoring touch was absent for much of the night. The star point guard managed just 16 points on a cold 5-of-18 shooting performance, including a 2-of-5 mark from beyond the arc.

The shooting woes extended across the perimeter for New York. Josh Hart finished with 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting, while the wing duo of OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges combined for a difficult night; Anunoby tallied 16 points on 6-of-17 shooting, and Bridges mirrored those struggles with 15 points on a 6-of-17 clip.

A bright spot for the Knicks’ depth was the play of Landry Shamet. Coming off the bench, Shamet provided a necessary offensive spark, contributing 14 points and proving to be a vital component of the rotation as New York nearly pulled off the upset against the Western Conference leaders.

For the Lakers, star guard Luka Doncic has been ruled out of the matchup against Oklahoma City due to a left hamstring strain. This marks the second consecutive game missed by Doncic, who suffered the injury during L.A.’s 119-115 win over the Philadelphia 76ers last Thursday.

On the Thunder’s side, reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been officially ruled out against the Lakers with an abdominal strain. This will be his third consecutive game missed, and the injury is expected to keep him sidelined through the All-Star break. Oklahoma City’s current two-game losing streak has coincided with his absence.

Luka Doncic’s season numbers

Doncic has appeared in 42 games for the Lakers this season, averaging 32.8 points, 8.6 assists, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. He leads the league in points per contest and was recently named an All-Star for the sixth time in his career.

The Lakers are 5-4 in the nine games Doncic has missed, including a win over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. With Austin Reaves and LeBron James active, Los Angeles still has the firepower to compete against a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-less Oklahoma City squad.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s season numbers

Gilgeous-Alexander has played in 49 games for the Thunder, posting averages of 31.8 points, 6.4 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. His consistent production keeps him in a serious MVP conversation this season.

Even without these star players, Monday’s matchup remains a must-watch, highlighting the depth and talent across both franchises as they battle for positioning in the NBA Western Conference standings.