Red-hot Thunder: 3 Takeaways in OKC’s win over Warriors

SGA’s struggles do not equal disaster

One of the top MVP candidates early this season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, scored 24 points but on an atrocious 6-for-21 from the field and a below-average 48 percent actual shooting rate. SGA also shot an abysmal 3-for-14 from the two-point range throughout the game.

The result, however, was far from how SGA looked in the game. OKC got its much-needed help from the other guys to make up the lost numbers that Shai usually fills.

Isaiah Joe was the leading force of this, posting 23 points on an immaculate 7-for-7 shooting from three to provide the stabilizing spark off the bench that catapulted the Thunder to the relatively lopsided win.

Joe was more than just a floor-spacer in the game. He moved well without the ball and used his shooting gravity in guard-to-guard actions to create advantages on offense, forcing gaffes on the Warriors’ defense throughout the game.

Josh Giddey also found his touch in the game, drilling eight of his 14 shots, including all three of his three-pointers for 19 points, alongside six rebounds. He was on a career-low 1.9 three-point attempts per game on an abysmal 19 percent shooting before the game.

As was aforementioned, this team has each others’ backs. This win indeed showed in the box score.