Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s gutsy ‘DNA’ performance in OKC’s comeback win against the Kings

OKLAHOMA CITY — After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Oklahoma City Thunder’s 10-point second half comeback win against Sacramento Kingshe talked about how his team managed to flip the switch during the most critical moments of the game. The Thunder went 5-for-32 from the floor in the third quarter, including 2-for-23 from inside the 3-point arc. Then Oklahoma City’s defense held the Kings to 18 points in the final frame.

A 17-4 run by the Thunder ended a 107-101 victory against the Kings. Without All-Stars Jaylen Williams, Isaiah Joe and guard Chet Holmgren, who was ruled out hours before tipoff, guys like Aaron Wiggins, Ajay Mitchell, Jaylin Williams and Alex Caruso stepped up in their absence.

After the win, Gilgeous-Alexander talked about the struggle of his team down the stretch, giving the Thunder a 5-0 start to the 2025-26 campaign.

“That’s just the DNA of this team, this group. We understand how to win basketball games, and tonight was a perfect display,” Gilgeus-Alexander said. “They made shots. We missed shots. We fouled shooters a million times tonight. We had a lot of mental lapses. We battled through it really well as a group and as individuals – kept the game close enough, and then when it was time to win, we did what it took to win.”

Gilgeus-Alexander finished with 31 points on 14-of-26 shooting, nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks and one steal. Wiggins has 18 points, six assists and three blocks. Mitchell led the Thunder bench with 18 points, and Lou Dort added 13 points and five rebounds.

The Thunder are one of four NBA teams still undefeated entering the second week of the regular season, the other in the Western Conference being the San Antonio Spurs at 4-0.

Mark Daigneault on SGA’s free throw differential for the Thunder

Coach Mark Daigneault addressed the Thunder All-Star Huge difference between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander free throws. Amid the Thunder’s back-to-back streaks, Gilgeous-Alexander attempted just two free throws in each win against the Mavericks and Kings.

However, one week into the regular season, Daigneault says it’s too soon to focus on the disparity in free throw shooting for Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder.

“It’s five games into the season. It’s the beginning of the year for every team. It’s early in the year to judge,” Daigneault said. “We have to get better now – that’s what we have to focus on. We have to focus on what we can control. That’s how you get better. And we can’t control how they call the game. So when we go in, we try to calibrate it as best we can and adjust to the whistle.”

In his last three outings, Gilgeous-Alexander is a combined 8-for-8 from the free-throw line after going 23-of-26 in a 141-135 double-overtime win against the Pacers, following his 10-for-14 mark from the line in the Thunder’s season opener.