Shai Gilgeous-Alexander held to season-low 15 points in loss to Spurs. What went wrong?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-low 15 points in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals on May 28, as the Oklahoma City Thunder fell 118-91 to the San Antonio Spurs, extending the series to a decisive Game 7. The Thunder’s MVP went 6-of-18 from the field, 0-for-5 on three-pointers, and added just 4 assists and 1 rebound in 28 minutes of play. The Spurs dominated the third quarter with a 20-4 run, sealing their victory and advancing to Game 7. Thunder guard Jalen Williams returned from a hamstring strain but was unable to offset Gilgeous-Alexander’s struggles, while Ajay Mitchell sat out due to a calf injury. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault acknowledged Gilgeous-Alexander’s poor performance, noting the team failed to exploit defensive mismatches as effectively as they had in the previous game. ‘I was encouraged last game by the cracks we found,’ Daigneault said. ‘Tonight, we didn’t execute as well. The Spurs’ defense was strong, and there are areas we need to improve.’ Gilgeous-Alexander had averaged 31.1 points per game in the regular season, winning back-to-back MVP awards, but his playoff performance has cooled. This was his third game under 20 points in the postseason, following 18 points against the Los Angeles Lakers and 19 in Game 4 against San Antonio. The Thunder will host Game 7 on May 30, with the winner advancing to face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. Gilgeous-Alexander’s 15 points marked his lowest playoff total since a 14-point outing against the Minnesota Timberwolves in May 2025.