The Oklahoma City Thunder claimed victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals against the Dallas Mavericks with an impressive 117-95 triumph. Throughout the regular season, the Thunder have forged strong camaraderie off the court, which has translated into exceptional basketball performance extending into the playoffs, where they remain undefeated.
Following their Game 1 success, Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shared his thoughts on how the team’s off-court unity has bolstered their on-court performance, particularly in the intense playoff atmosphere.
“Our off-court bond makes playing together and for each other much easier… We understand that each teammate genuinely supports and cares for one another’s well-being. Consequently, when we hit the court, we’re driven by something greater than individual success.”
Continuing his stellar form from the regular season, Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder in Game 1 with a remarkable near-triple-double performance, tallying 29 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. A significant portion of his scoring came from the free-throw line, where he made 11 out of 13 attempts. However, akin to their season-long approach, the Thunder displayed collective effort in securing the victory against Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving, and the Mavericks in Game 1.
