Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins Joel Embiid in unwanted MVP history after Game 6 collapse
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a poor performance in Game 6 as the Oklahoma City Thunder were routed 118-91 by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. With a chance to clinch a return to the NBA Finals, the Thunder’s star guard struggled to make an impact, finishing with 15 points in 28 minutes while shooting 6-of-18 from the field and committing two turnovers. His minus-28 plus-minus was the worst on the team and marked a major letdown in a crucial moment.
According to ESPN Insights, Gilgeous-Alexander’s minus-28 was tied with Joel Embiid’s minus-28 in Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals for the lowest plus-minus by an NBA MVP in a clinching opportunity in the play-by-play era, which began in 1997. The statistic highlights how difficult the night was for Gilgeous-Alexander as Oklahoma City failed to close out the series.
The loss pushed the Thunder into a winner-take-all Game 7, where they will return home with another chance to reach the NBA Finals. Saturday’s matchup now carries even more weight, as Gilgeous-Alexander will be expected to respond after one of the most disappointing games of his postseason run. The pressure will be high for Oklahoma City, which had already been within reach of securing its place in the championship series before the Game 6 collapse.
For Gilgeous-Alexander, the task ahead is clear: bounce back quickly and help lead the Thunder in front of their home crowd. The team still controls its own fate, but after failing to seize the opportunity in Game 6, Oklahoma City must regroup and deliver in Game 7 to keep its Finals hopes alive.
