NBA

Gilgeous-Alexander produces career-high 45 and against who else but the Clippers?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives against James Harden of the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Paycom Center...

Critics will quickly opine the Thunder are a regular season team, exciting and easy to root for when it’s going well, but if adversity arrives then their supplementary players start to hide or falter under the brightest lights. Nights like this, where their franchise star reached new heights, suggests otherwise. Continue reading “Gilgeous-Alexander produces career-high 45 and against who else but the Clippers?”

NBA

Olympics: SGA leading the way for Canada before France quarterfinal – of course he is

Spain's Sergio Llull defends against Canada's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between Canada and...

Canada seek their first men’s basketball Olympic medal since clinching silver back in 1936 and know they must sustain their excellent group stage play to do so. The bulk of the focus surrounds Team USA for obvious reasons but as RJ Barrett and Dillon Brooks have played important support roles, Canada’s star guard leads by example – Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Continue reading “Olympics: SGA leading the way for Canada before France quarterfinal – of course he is”

NBA

Chicago trade Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey in surprise deal – OKC stay being shrewd!

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder attempts to drive past Alex Caruso of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at Paycom Center...

The market for Alex Caruso stretched far and wide, before the February trade deadline and quietly behind-the-scenes afterwards, but yet again Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti has done it – a straight swap with Josh Giddey – for the league’s most-coveted role player at a time of his career where he can seamlessly elevate a championship-contending team again.
Continue reading “Chicago trade Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey in surprise deal – OKC stay being shrewd!”

NBA

Luka Doncic’s sharpened focus sees Dallas regain series lead in Oklahoma, now 3-2 up

Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks reacts against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second...

After a disappointing two-game home stint, Dallas Mavericks’ superstar Luka Doncic rebounded with a big Game 5 showing in Oklahoma – a 31-point triple-double – as Jason Kidd’s side regained a slender series lead and can now clinch a WCF berth this weekend among home comforts vs. the West’s #1-ranked team. Continue reading “Luka Doncic’s sharpened focus sees Dallas regain series lead in Oklahoma, now 3-2 up”

NBA

Lakers 130-133 Thunder: OKC hold firm away as LeBron breaks Kareem’s 38-year scoring record

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after scoring to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer, surpassing...

Lakers star forward LeBron James made history in the early hours on Wednesday, breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38-year record as the league’s highest points scorer of all-time. A recurring foot issue saw him sidelined late on but didn’t dampen the mood on a celebratory night, despite what proved a narrow 133-130 home defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Continue reading “Lakers 130-133 Thunder: OKC hold firm away as LeBron breaks Kareem’s 38-year scoring record”

Archives

Jokic again justifies the MVP chants with 35-point winning performance vs. Thunder

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 26, 2022 at the Ball Arena in Denver,...

On another evening decided by slim margins, reigning MVP Nikola Jokic produced a masterful showing and played through an intricate eye injury late on to help a depleted Denver overcome the tenacious Thunder without their two best players. With seven regular season games left, it makes you wonder: how will they manage in the playoffs? Continue reading “Jokic again justifies the MVP chants with 35-point winning performance vs. Thunder”

Archives

All-Star break over, what now? NBA Q+A: Rookie watch, trade targets and surging Suns

Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns smiles prior to a game against the Golden State Warriors on March 4, 2021 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix,...

Midway through an unprecedented season hampered by COVID-19 protocols, troublesome injuries and more too, I spoke to LA Clippers fan and NBA expert Jack Brown shortly after the All-Star game – discussing multiple topics including: standout rookies, possible moves between now and the March 25 trade deadline while assessing true contenders from the pretenders. Continue reading “All-Star break over, what now? NBA Q+A: Rookie watch, trade targets and surging Suns”

Archives

NBA Previews: OKC Thunder vs Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns host Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers works against Rui Hachimura of the Washington Wizards in the fourth quarter at Moda Center on February...

Read on for two NBA match previews as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder (12-18) host a determined Miami Heat (13-17) side, while reigning West Player of the Week Damian Lillard looks to propel an undermanned Portland Trail Blazers (18-11) to a big road win vs. Phoenix Suns (19-10), with both vying for fourth place out West. Who will prevail? Continue reading “NBA Previews: OKC Thunder vs Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns host Trail Blazers”

Archives

Oklahoma City Thunder rightly building around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Young Thunder finding their legs in playoff run vs. Rockets - HoustonChronicle.com

After a whirlwind month which saw his mentor Chris Paul depart for Phoenix, a new head coach appointed, multiple teammates leaving in trades or free agency, it’s become increasingly clear that the Oklahoma City Thunder are both prepared and willing to build their team around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander going forward – a belief echoed by GM Sam Presti earlier this weekend. Continue reading “Oklahoma City Thunder rightly building around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander”

Archives

NBA Playoff Previews: Thunder-Rockets, Heat-Pacers as First Round intensifies

OKC Thunder grinds past Rockets to take Game 3 in overtime - Grades

Two match previews as the Oklahoma City Thunder aim to level their intriguing matchup against the Houston Rockets after winning an overtime thriller in Game 3 this past weekend, before an impressive Miami Heat team target a record-breaking series sweep at Indiana Pacers’ expense later on tonight. Who will win? Continue reading “NBA Playoff Previews: Thunder-Rockets, Heat-Pacers as First Round intensifies”

Archives

NBA Previews: Heat-Raptors, Thunder-Nuggets as playoff hopefuls clash today

Raptors score season-low 76 points, fall to Heat - Sportsnet.ca

The NBA’s resumption continues on Monday as Miami and Oklahoma look to build after opening weekend victories in difficult encounters to kick off the new week. Read on for match previews ahead of Heat-Raptors and Thunder-Nuggets across the two conferences as teams get up to speed from the Orlando bubble. Continue reading “NBA Previews: Heat-Raptors, Thunder-Nuggets as playoff hopefuls clash today”

Archives

NBA Previews: Nuggets-Heat, Thunder-Jazz as season continues in Orlando

Jazz 100, Thunder 95: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores career-high ...

The NBA’s resumption continues this weekend as a few surprise package sides clash in compelling matchups on Saturday. Read on for match previews ahead of Nuggets-Heat and Thunder-Jazz as the regular season fixtures intensify. Continue reading “NBA Previews: Nuggets-Heat, Thunder-Jazz as season continues in Orlando”