The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stole the show on the night Damian Lillard beat Clyde Drexler to become the franchise’s all-time greatest scorer.
All night long, the Blazers and Thunder swapped insults during the crucial moments. Gilgeous-Alexander, however, got the last word when he faced off against Justise Winslow on the left block, spun quickly to the left, and came to a stop on the spot for a midrange pull-up that tickled the twine just as the buzzer sounded.
SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER AT THE BUZZER pic.twitter.com/tTAYR857xZ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) ClutchPointsApp/status/1605042873417621505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>December 20, 2022
A new clutch king is vying for Lillard’s throne, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made sure to announce this from the two-minute mark on. With just over a minute left, SGA made two midrange pull-ups to give the Thunder a 116-115 lead. The Thunder and Blazers then exchanged scores. Anfernee Simons and Damian Lillard each made two easy baskets for the Blazers, while Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort made some crucial free throws to give OKC the lead back.
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When the Blazers turned the ball over twice in a row to give the Thunder, who had a 120-119 lead, back possession, it appeared as though all hope was lost for them. Although youngster Jalen Williams missed a free throw, Lillard’s stunning reverse layup tied the score at 121 and raised the prospect of overtime.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, though, was having none of it as he added yet another game-winning play to his already lengthy resume of heroics in the heat of battle. In the Thunder’s 123-121 victory, Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 35 points, while Lillard finished with 28 points in the losing effort.
