SGA says 'I have to be better' after Game 1 letdown vs. Spurs - ESPN

OKLAHOMA CITY — After being presented his second straight NBA MVP trophy in a pregame ceremony on the Paycom Center floor, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn't perform up to that lofty standard in a thrilling Western Conference finals opener.

The San Antonio Spurs' smothering defense had a lot to do with Gilgeous-Alexander's struggles during the defending champion Thunder's 122-115 double-overtime loss in Monday's epic Game 1.

The Spurs threw a steady diet of double-teams at Gilgeous-Alexander. Victor Wembanyama, the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, sagged off spot-up shooters to patrol the paint and protect the rim.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 24 points and 12 assists in 51 minutes, but he shot only 7 of 23 from the floor and committed four turnovers, falling far short of his efficient norms.

«We just got to be better — me, in particular,» said Gilgeous-Alexander, who became the 14th player in NBA history to win back-to-back MVPs. «I have to be better, especially against a team of this caliber. Nothing more than that.»

Thunder guard Alex Caruso took advantage of Wembanyama roaming off of him to make 8 of his 14 3-point attempts en route to scoring a playoff-career-high 31 points. But the Spurs are willing to make that sacrifice to prevent Gilgeous-Alexander, the first player to average at least 30 points in four consecutive seasons since Michael Jordan, from getting in a groove.

«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