Thunder: 1 stud, 5 duds from crucial loss in Game 5 vs Mavericks

Stud: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was unfazed against Dallas' suffocating defensive scheme. 

The superstar carried the Thunder on his shoulders throughout the game, finishing with 30 points on 12-of-22 shooting from the field. SGA continued to deliver for the team even against a defense that was all geared up to stop his drives. 

The Thunder's offense heavily relied on the offensive creation of the MVP runner-up. Without Shai, the OKC offense looked stagnant with baskets coming from hard, low-qualify shots. 

It did not help that calls were not going the Thunder’s way, shooting only 10 free throws, of which six came from Gilgeous-Alexander. 

It would not have been a close matchup if not for Shai’s offensive brilliance. With the Thunder’s offense not looking as good as it has been, the OKC superstar often made the team seem more productive than they actually were.

Of course, one cannot rely on just one player to carry the load in a playoff series. The Thunder would not survive if Gilgeous-Alexander were to do these kinds of heavy lifting against a Mavericks team that has also been well-balanced for the most part. 

For SGA, the mission and the mindset will persist as they face elimination in the road.