Thunder Notes: SGA, Caruso, Holmgren, Mitchell

The league’s two-time Most Valuable Player was disappointed by his performance in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 24 points and 12 assists in 51 minutes during the Thunder’s double overtime loss to the Spurs but he shot only 7 of 23 from the floor and committed four turnovers, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon notes.

“We just got to be better — me, in particular,” he said. “I have to be better, especially against a team of this caliber. Nothing more than that.”

San Antonio focused its defense on containing SGA. They often double-teamed Gilgeous-Alexander while Victor Wembanyama sagged off spot-up shooters to protect the rim.

“I know what my teammates are capable of, what we’re capable of as a team when we bring it,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s just unfortunate that I wasn’t able to bring my best game tonight, but that’s how it goes sometimes. Sometimes, you’re your best version, sometimes you’re not. You’ve got to roll with the punches, don’t get discouraged and stay true to who you are.”

Here’s more on the Thunder:

• Alex Caruso was the beneficiary of San Antonio’s strategy, erupting for 31 points. Caruso says his intensity ramps up in the playoffs. “I think that’s probably why I play better this time of year, because winning is of the utmost importance and it carries a lot more weight in the playoffs than it does during the season,” Caruso said, per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic. “It’s one of those things where you’re just trying to make whatever the play is and trying to win the game.”
• Chet Holmgren struggled throughout the season against the Spurs and that didn’t change in Game 1, Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman notes. In five games against the Spurs, Holmgren is averaging 10 points per game on 37% shooting. That includes his eight-point output in Game 1, with both of his baskets coming on 3-pointers. How can they get him more involved? “It’s a good question,” coach Mark Daigneault said. “I think the general attacks in the offense will benefit everybody, put everybody in advantages, including him. The playoffs to this point have been a lot of that for him. He’s been very effective, and I think it’s been downstream of us running good offense. It’s not like we’re pushing buttons for him, it’s more like an identity thing that is feeding everybody and he’s been in the middle of that. I think if we play better collectively, he’ll be more involved and we’ll be able to get more cracks offensively.”
• Ajay Mitchell averaged 22.5 points against the Lakers in the conference semifinals but only took five shots in Game 1 while scoring four points.  The 2024 second-round pick contributed in other ways with five assists, four rebounds and two steals. “There was part of me that truly believed I was a first-round pick,” Mitchell said to Andscape’s Marc J. Spears. “But there was another part of me that was like, ‘Don’t forget where you come from.’ For me to even play in the NBA and get drafted was like a dream as a little kid. Being able to do it, I will never take it for granted. It was a little mixed [emotions]. I definitely wanted to show people I was worth a first-round pick. I am just really happy to be a part of this organization with an opportunity to get better. That was the main goal for me.”