On Thursday, the OKC Thunder won a slugfest against the Denver Nuggets. Neither team eclipsed 100 points amid off-shooting nights and stout defense.
Among those who failed to bring their best jumper, superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander snapped his 141-game streak of 20-plus points scored.
SGA was a non-factor on the offensive end for most of the game, and it might have been the best thing that could've happened to this 2026-27 Thunder squad.
From tip-off, it was clear Shai wasn't going to be at his best. He failed to score a point in the first quarter, and it was thanks to a late-game flurry of buckets that he even got close to continuing the streak.
By that time, the contest was virtually over.
The Thunder won fairly easily despite one of Gilgeous-Alexander's worst shooting nights in recent memory.
For the last few seasons, the team's reliance on their star had been a growing cause for concern. The worry culminated in Game 7 of the finals last year, when SGA put the entire offense on his back, but OKC fell short because of a lack of production from the supporting cast.
Believe it or not, SGA's rough outing against the Nuggets may have suggested that these concerns may no longer be the case.
Thunder supporting cast proved they can step up in tough matchups
Even without Gilgeous-Alexander's usual contributions, the rest of the Thunder were still able to win a tough matchup against a projected playoff contender, and convincingly at that.
Only Jalen Williams scored at least 20 points. The rest of the production was scattered up and down the lineup.
Even Tuesday's hero against the Spurs, Jared McCain, scored just four points on 1-of-6 shooting.
Coach Mark Daigneualt's squad proved that his team's offense can truly come from anywhere on the depth chart. In a way, Shai's off night was beneficial for a team that has looked a bit too one-dimensional at times.
With new weapons like Aday Mara and evolving ones like Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain, the Thunder attack looks more unpredictable than ever -- in a good way.
If the spontaneity of the offense continues, opponents will find it difficult to sell out against SGA, as too many secondary options lie waiting to punish overly aggressive defenses.
It wouldn't be all too outlandish to see defenses begin to back off of double teams as the season goes on, assuming the Thunder's role players continue to perform at a high level.
While SGA struggled, his teammates picked up the slack. If trends continue, the rest of the league will likely follow in the footsteps of the Denver Nuggets, faltering against the multifaceted blue and orange attack.
Add us as a preferred source on Google