In a tightly contested Game 3 showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets , emotions ran high as the Thunder fell short in overtime, 113-104. After the disappointing loss, however, it was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ’s smile as he exited Ball Arena that captured attention, sparking debate across social media and beyond. After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander explained the reason behind his smile that surprised the fanbase.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander explains why he smiled after the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Game 3 loss
The Oklahoma City Thunder fought hard to continue their winning streak in Game 3, but the Denver Nuggets claimed the overtime victory. After a clutch play by Denver Nuggets' Aaron Gordon pushed the game into overtime, the Nuggets pulled away by outscoring OKC 11-2 in the extra period.
He added, “Nothing’s written. The series is not over, and we have a lot to be optimistic about.”
Statistically, it wasn’t Gilgeous-Alexander’s best night. He shot just 7-for-22 from the field and went a rough 1-for-6 from three-point range, finishing with 18 points— his second-lowest total of the series. From the free-throw line, he hit only 3 of 5. But his overall impact went beyond scoring. He hauled in 13 rebounds, handed out 7 assists, and committed just one turnover in 44.7 minutes on the court.
Despite the shooting slump, Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t dodge responsibility.
“In those moments when the game slows down, it usually comes down to your best players making shots and making plays,” he said. “And I didn’t do a good enough job of that tonight.”
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault echoed his star’s mindset. “We are in the process of becoming a great team — one thing it takes to be a great team is you get taken to the limit,” he told reporters after the game.
And the Thunder were certainly pushed. Even with Nuggets star Nikola Jokic having an uncharacteristic off night— shooting 8-of-25 from the field and 0-of-10 from three— Denver’s depth made the difference. Jalen Williams led the Thunder in scoring with 32 points, and rookie Chet Holmgren contributed 18. Still, the win gave Denver a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals .
Also Read: Oklahoma City Thunder vs Denver Nuggets (05/09): Box score, player stats, game summary and more
The Thunder prepare for Game 4 in Denver on Sunday, May 11.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander explains why he smiled after the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Game 3 loss
The Oklahoma City Thunder fought hard to continue their winning streak in Game 3, but the Denver Nuggets claimed the overtime victory. After a clutch play by Denver Nuggets' Aaron Gordon pushed the game into overtime, the Nuggets pulled away by outscoring OKC 11-2 in the extra period.
Yet, amid the heartbreak, Gilgeous-Alexander appeared unfazed. As the crowd roared and Nuggets fans jeered, the All-Star guard walked off the court with a wide grin. Certainly, it was an expression that many found puzzling.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after going down 2-1 against the Nuggets pic.twitter.com/3WAlp66fLB
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) May 10, 2025
“Some fans were taunting me,” Gilgeous-Alexander explained during his postgame interview. “I know how the game goes. I know how life is. It’s easy to taunt when you’re up, and I don’t ever want to show them that I’m defeated or mad or anything like that.”"Some fans were taunting me... It's easy to taunt when you're up." 👀
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 10, 2025
SGA explains why he was smiling as he walked off the court in Game 3 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/bGms8Ty7qK
He added, “Nothing’s written. The series is not over, and we have a lot to be optimistic about.”
Statistically, it wasn’t Gilgeous-Alexander’s best night. He shot just 7-for-22 from the field and went a rough 1-for-6 from three-point range, finishing with 18 points— his second-lowest total of the series. From the free-throw line, he hit only 3 of 5. But his overall impact went beyond scoring. He hauled in 13 rebounds, handed out 7 assists, and committed just one turnover in 44.7 minutes on the court.
Despite the shooting slump, Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t dodge responsibility.
“In those moments when the game slows down, it usually comes down to your best players making shots and making plays,” he said. “And I didn’t do a good enough job of that tonight.”
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault echoed his star’s mindset. “We are in the process of becoming a great team — one thing it takes to be a great team is you get taken to the limit,” he told reporters after the game.
And the Thunder were certainly pushed. Even with Nuggets star Nikola Jokic having an uncharacteristic off night— shooting 8-of-25 from the field and 0-of-10 from three— Denver’s depth made the difference. Jalen Williams led the Thunder in scoring with 32 points, and rookie Chet Holmgren contributed 18. Still, the win gave Denver a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals .
Also Read: Oklahoma City Thunder vs Denver Nuggets (05/09): Box score, player stats, game summary and more
The Thunder prepare for Game 4 in Denver on Sunday, May 11.
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