The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, powered past the Minnesota Timberwolves, 114-88, in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. The game had its share of ups and downs — injuries, fouls, and heartbreaking moments — but the postgame story was all heart.
After the final buzzer, Gilgeous-Alexander was spotted celebrating the win with his son, Ares, in a touching moment that quickly won over fans.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Celebrates Win With His Son
Once the game ended and the arena began to clear, Shai was seen spending some quiet time with his son at Paycom Center. In a short video posted by SportsCenter Next, the OKC star dribbled a basketball alongside his son, laughing and playing on the court.
Shai and his wife, Hailey Summer, watched as little Ares ran after the ball. Both father and son even appeared to be wearing matching sneakers, too. Take a look at the moment below:
Shai celebrating the Game 1 win with his son ❤️
(via @SCNext)pic.twitter.com/oGDGeeIkH6
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops)
Gilgeous-Alexander also hugged Ares and carried him around the court after the win as fans looked on. Even during halftime, the Thunder star made time to shower his son with affection.
Moments like these remind us what makes the game special — a superstar showing love to his family on the biggest stage. Maybe Ares is the lucky charm behind Shai’s success.
SGA Leading the Way With Dominating Strategies
OKC’s first-half performance had fans uneasy. The energy felt off, and questions started to rise about whether they could pull it together. But as the game wore on, SGA took charge, leading a turnaround that silenced all doubts.
Shai finished with 31 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists. His impact was felt on every possession. After the game, reporters asked what adjustments the team made. His answer?
MORE: SGA Joins Kevin Durant in Exclusive Thunder Club
“I’m gonna keep that a secret, and not let the world know so they don’t see it, but we know what we gotta do.”
Whatever the secret was, it worked. His leadership helped ignite a defense that suffocated Minnesota. The Thunder crashed the boards, pressured seemingly every shot, and didn’t let up.
They’ll look to carry that same energy into Game 2 on Thursday in Oklahoma City.
