In a season where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has routinely looked like one of the best players on the planet, Game 2 against the Denver Nuggets might have been his most flawless performance yet.
Let’s start with the numbers, because they’re almost hard to believe: 34 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, while shooting 11-for-13 from the field. That’s 85% from the floor, paired with a staggering 95% True Shooting Percentage — almost unheard of for a high-volume scorer in a playoff environment. And, as if that weren’t enough, Shai posted a jaw-dropping +51 in the box score, one of the highest single-game plus-minus marks in recent playoff history.
Shai didn’t just score; he controlled the entire game. His shot selection was surgical. He attacked mismatches, glided into the midrange for effortless pull-ups, and finished at the rim with his trademark balance and touch. Denver’s defense, typically so well-organized under Michael Malone, looked lost trying to contain him. Double teams didn’t rattle him. Blitzes didn’t force mistakes. Instead, Shai calmly picked them apart, finding open shooters and cutters for easy buckets.
Efficiency like this doesn’t happen by accident. Shai’s pace, decision-making, and understanding of where his advantages were made him completely unguardable. And it wasn’t just about getting his own shot; his 8 assists kept OKC’s offense humming. Every possession felt purposeful with Shai at the controls, and the Thunder played like a team that knew exactly where it was supposed to be.
Defensively, Shai held his own, too. He used his 6’6″ frame and quick hands to disrupt passing lanes and force tough shots. While he’s not a defensive anchor like Chet Holmgren, Shai’s on-ball defense and help instincts are underrated aspects of his growing superstardom. His ability to contribute without the ball, both defensively and as a smart off-ball mover on offense, helped Oklahoma City blow the game wide open.
But the most jaw-dropping stat might be the +51. In a playoff game, against the defending champs, Shai’s presence on the floor turned OKC into a juggernaut. When he sat, the Thunder merely held their own; when he played, they looked unstoppable. Plus-minus can sometimes be noisy, but a margin like that — especially tied to a player’s dominant offensive efficiency — leaves no doubt: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander owned Game 2.
This wasn’t just an excellent game; it was a message. Shai’s performance served notice to the rest of the league that Oklahoma City is here — and they have a legitimate MVP-caliber player leading the way. At just 25 years old, he’s blending skill, poise, and leadership in a way that feels frightening for the rest of the Western Conference.
Game 2 was a reminder that playoff basketball often comes down to stars. And right now, there are few — if any — shining brighter than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
With the series shifting to Denver, the Thunder have momentum, belief, and the best player on the floor so far. If Shai keeps playing like this, anything is possible.
