After the Thunder lost to the Spurs in the first round of the Western Conference Finals, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander believes they need to patiently look for offensive opportunities.

The Oklahoma City Thunder lost 115-122 to the San Antonio Spurs at home in the first round of the 2025/26 NBA Western Conference Semifinals, despite scoring from Alex Caruso, Jalen Williams, and Gilgeous-Alexander. Gilgeous-Alexander stated that the team must remain patient and ensure they get the best shooting opportunities on every possession.

According to the data, Alex Caruso scored 31 points and had one assist in this key game, Jalen Williams scored 26 points and had 3 assists, and Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 24 points and 12 assists for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said, "The San Antonio Spurs are very strong, and we knew it would be a tough game. We have to do better, especially myself. I have to play better against teams of this caliber."

"The game unfolded exactly as I expected, with a very fast pace. Our opponents played very quickly, which was exactly the pace I anticipated, and we had to perform even better on the court."

When discussing how to deal with the opponent's defense, Gilgeous-Alexander pointed out, "I tried to make choices based on the space their defense gave me. I felt that they initially collapsed their driving lanes very obviously, so I mostly passed the ball to open shooters on the perimeter. As the game progressed, their defense loosened up a bit, and I gradually found space to drive. But when those opportunities came, I had to be more decisive."

“We must remain aggressive, but more importantly, we must play smart. Our opponents are excellent at protecting the rim, but we still managed to find openings sometimes. We need to be more patient on every possession and make sure we get the best shooting opportunities on every possession.”

In addition, Kyrgyz Alexander said, "This was a fantastic match for Alex Caruso, it's just a pity that it didn't translate into victory. He gave it his all, and I'm proud of him. But to be honest, I wasn't surprised by his performance; he always steps up in crucial moments."

“I know my teammates’ abilities, and I know how good our team can be when we’re in good form. It’s just a pity that I wasn’t able to play my best, but that happens sometimes. Sometimes you are your best, and sometimes you aren’t. The key is to learn to accept it, not to get discouraged, and to keep believing in yourself.”

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