{"id":140107,"date":"2025-05-18T08:02:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-18T12:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=140107"},"modified":"2025-05-18T08:02:01","modified_gmt":"2025-05-18T12:02:01","slug":"shai-gilgeous-alexander-ready-moment-game-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/05\/18\/shai-gilgeous-alexander-ready-moment-game-7\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Ready to Meet the Moment in Game 7?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics being eliminated puts the next team up<\/a> on the menu to be served. The pressure is shifting on the Oklahoma City Thunder to survive and try to win Game 7. OKC is the only team standing among 60+ win teams this season. The mounting pressure is starting to pile up. Game 7 in Oklahoma City is do-or-die for the Thunder, but is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> ready to step up and save OKC’s historic season?<\/p>\n

Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Ready to Meet the Moment in Game 7?<\/h2>\n

No Oklahoma City fan wants to see their team go into a Game 7. Being able to play at home is just an added bonus, but the pressure remains the same. With the Nuggets playing their second Game 7 in a row<\/a>, this may well be quite the challenge for OKC. Only SGA, Luguentz Dort<\/a>, and Isaiah Hartenstein<\/a> (with the New York Knicks) have had the chance to do so. If the Nuggets are relying on experience, OKC might have a little bit of that luxury too.<\/p>\n

OKC’s Biggest Hurdle in a Long While<\/h3>\n

Oklahoma City continues to prove that it is one of the best teams on the rise<\/a>. OKC has no problems in closing out opponents in the first round, as witnessed in their series last year against the New Orleans Pelicans and the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this year. However, it is safe to say that their second round fortunes have yet to improve. Sure, this series is heading for seven games, but their struggles have been the same as last year.<\/p>\n

Jalen Williams<\/a>‘ tough stretch first and foremost, isn’t a new thing as it is even worse than last year against the Dallas Mavericks. We are all expecting a big response from the first-time All-Star, but everything begins with the team’s top scorer. OKC has not seen a Game 7 since that 2020 run against the Houston Rockets in the first round. That ended up as a loss even with both SGA and Dort playing in their first year with the Thunder.<\/p>\n

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WE'RE GOING TO SEVEN \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n

Winner goes to the Western Conference Finals.<\/p>\n

Sunday, May 18 at 3:30 PM ET on ABC \ud83c\udf7f pic.twitter.com\/QFAGtotkYq<\/a><\/p>\n

— ESPN (@espn) May 16, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n