Shai Gilgeous-Alexander punctuated his 35-point, 9-rebound, 15-assist masterclass against the Denver Nuggets on Monday with a game-winning trey. And afterwards, he served notice to the entire NBA with one of the coldest lines ever.
“I have answers to the test… But I gotta see the questions first…” Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame when asked about what was running through his mind when he went for the win against the Nuggets.
“Once I saw who was on my left and I was going right, I think it was Christian Braun that was in the gap… If I drove, it’ll probably be contested with two guys, so I tried to separate…,” SGA added on his game-winning step-back triple.
That trey, incidentally, was the second of back-to-back triples he hit in the final 40 seconds of regulation, as he hit another step-back that gave OKC a 126-122 lead.
Gilgeous-Alexander Has Had All the Answers
Indeed, Gilgeous-Alexander seems to have all the answers to whatever defenses are throwing at him for the past season and a half. After averaging 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists on 51.9% shooting in his MVP season, SGA has been just as spectacular this season, putting up 31.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists on a 55.1% clip from the field.
Crucially, SGA led OKC to the best record in the entire NBA at 51-15—all while looking nearly unbeatable at stretches. And his latest masterclass, against the three-time MVP Nikola Jokic no less, is further proof that he’s got defenses all figured out thus far.
Next to test Gilgeous-Alexander are the Boston Celtics, who boast several elite defenders and are among the best defensive units in the league. Whether they have a test SGA can’t solve is something to keep an eye on for sure.
