SGA's 35 points not enough as Thunder eliminated by Spurs in Game 7

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a stellar 35-point performance, including 9 assists, in a high-stakes Game 7 against the San Antonio Spurs. Despite his individual brilliance, which tied him with Michael Jordan for the most 30-point games in Game 7s, the Oklahoma City Thunder fell short, losing 103-111 and failing to advance to the NBA Finals.

The Thunder's defeat means the league will see a new champion for the eighth year running. The last team to successfully defend their title was the Golden State Warriors during the 2017-18 season, a testament to the competitive parity in the league.

This particular Western Conference Semifinals matchup between the Thunder and the Spurs was historic in itself. It marked the ninth instance in NBA history where the top two seeded teams in a conference battled in a Game 7, and the first occurrence since the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings did so in 2002. The intensity of the series underscored the high level of competition at the top of the Western Conference.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander today in the seventh game against the Spurs scored 35 points, 9 assists, and became the second player in history to score at least 30 points in two Game 7s.