Thunder vs. Wizards: Five takeaways from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & OKC’s win at Washington

WASHINGTON, D.C. — If you weren’t paying attention to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s superstar season, well, now it’s impossible to ignore.

Gilgeous-Alexander tied his career-high with 42 points, punctuated by a cold-blooded, go-ahead, step-back 3-pointer with one second on the clock.

Gilgeous-Alexander was doused by his teammates after the Thunder’s 121-120 win.

As SGA walked off the floor, he was serenaded with MVP chants. The game was in Washington, D.C.

Gilgeous-Alexander is no longer an anonymous star.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s stepback beats Wizards

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been picky this season deciding when to bust out the step-back three. A year ago he launched them with regularity.

Gilgeous-Alexander picked the right time against the Wizards.

He put the Thunder ahead 82-81 on a slick step-back three late in the third quarter. SGA turned and got back on defense a second earlier than usual. He knew the shot was going in.

Then, of course, came the game-winner on a step-back 3-pointer.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points with seven assists and six rebounds. He shot 14-of-21 from the floor, including 12-of-17 from the free throw line.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 19 points in the third quarter on six shots. He was 6-of-6 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free throw line.

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) dribbles the ball against Washington Wizards guard Monte Morris, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Bench fuels early comeback

The Wizards bombed their way to a 33-16 lead nine minutes into the game.

Six minutes later, the Thunder tied the game 37-37 — a 21-4 Thunder run that happened in a flash.

It was powered by the bench. Three Williamses — Jalen, Jaylin and Kenrich — along with Lindy Waters III and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. Just the lineup everyone expected to see, right?

Here’s the thing. Trying to predict Mark Daigneault’s rotation will make you go mad. That’s because there aren’t any rotations.

Story continues

Razorback Williams had an assist to Santa Clara Williams as part of the Thunder’s run.

“Three-point field goal by Jalen Williams, assisted by Jaylin Williams,” Washington’s PA announcer said as if it was any other basket.

The Thunder’s bench outscored the Wizards’ bench in the first half, but OKC’s starting crew of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Aleksej Pokusevski bled points.

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) reacts after an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, in Washington. The Thunder won 121-120. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Lindy Waters III

Former OSU guard Lindy Waters III had played in just two games, a team-low, before Wednesday.

But Waters, wearing an orange hand band and his hair tied in a bun, played early and often against the Wizards.

The Thunder outscored the Wizards by a whopping 32 points when Waters was on the floor.

Waters started the second half in place of Pokusevski. Waters finished with nine points on 3-of-7 3-point shooting.

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) battles for the ball against Washington Wizards center Kristaps Porzingis (6) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, in Washington. Thunder forward Aleksej Pokusevski is at right. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Thunder tip-ins

• Darius Bazley (right ankle sprain) missed his fourth consecutive game. Tre Mann (lower back soreness) missed his second game in a row. Daigneault didn’t have an update on either.

• Point guard Delon Wright (right hamstring strain) was out for the Wizards.

• Aaron Wiggins, a former Terrapin, went to Maryland’s home game against Bighampton on Tuesday night. College Park, Maryland, is only 11 miles from downtown D.C.

• The Thunder is 5-0 when Aaron Wiggins starts.

• OKC and Washington have a combined three players from Gonzaga: the Wizards’ Rui Hachimura and Corey Kispert and the Thunder’s Chet Holmgren.

• Wizards guard Bradley Beal was back after missing his previous five games due to injury.

• Waters and Robinson-Earl started the second half in place of Giddey and Pokusevski.

• Gilgeous-Alexander missed five free throws. He had missed six all season before Wednesday night.

• Capital One Arena was not the place to be Wednesday night. There were entire sections that were nearly empty.

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lifts OKC Thunder past Washington Wizards