Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander credited the San Antonio Spurs as “the better team” in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals.<\/p>\n
The Spurs claimed a 111-103 victory Saturday in Oklahoma City to advance to the NBA Finals.<\/p>\n
“They were just the better team tonight, from start to finish,” Gilgeous-Alexander said Saturday night. “And then every time we tried to cut into it, and take control of the game, I felt like they had an answer. And a lot of times it felt like it was tough shot-making, so hats off to them.”<\/p>\n
Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 35 points on 12-for-21 shooting from the field while going 9-for-11 from the foul line in the Game 7 loss.<\/p>\n
Victor Wembanyama, who was later named Western Conference Finals MVP, helped the Spurs close out the win with 22 points and seven rebounds.<\/p>\n
Gilgeous-Alexander said after the loss he felt Wembanyama and the Spurs could go on to win a title over the New York Knicks.<\/p>\n
“They’re young, talented, well-coached, play the right way, play together,” Gilgeous-Alexander said<\/a> about the Spurs. “Seems like they like each other.<\/p>\n “They have the makeup for sure. You don’t beat us without the makeup, and they beat us, so they have the makeup to go get one.”<\/p>\n That’s a more flattering description of the Spurs than that provided by the Thunder’s Cason Wallace, who described<\/a> San Antonio after Game 7 as a “good” but “beatable” team.<\/p>\n The Thunder spent most of the postseason without Jalen Williams, who was sidelined for Game 7 with a lingering hamstring injury.<\/p>\n Oklahoma City had an opportunity to close out the series in Game 6, but was unable to hold the Spurs back from claiming consecutive victories to win the West.<\/p>\n Saturday’s loss could mark the final game for some of the Thunder’s current players if general manager Sam Presti looks to make tweaks around the team’s core of Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Chet Holmgren this offseason.<\/p>\n When asked Saturday if he planned to weigh in on those decisions, Gilgeous-Alexander expressed faith in Presti to guide the team forward.<\/p>\n “I will give zero input,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I will let Sam Presti, the greatest GM ever, do his job.”<\/p>\n Gilgeous-Alexander also reaffirmed his commitment to the Thunder, with which he is currently signed through the 2030-31 season after agreeing to a four-year extension<\/a> following Oklahoma City’s 2025 title win.<\/p>\n