Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder were routed 118-91 in Thursday’s Game 6 Western Conference finals clash against the San Antonio Spurs, squandering their first of two chances to clinch their second straight NBA Finals berth.
The reigning back-to-back MVP’s up-and-down play continued, as he struggled mightily en route to a playoff-low 15 points, drawing scathing criticism.
NBA World Flames Shai Gilgeous-Alexander After Nightmare Game 6 vs. Spurs
With a chance to close out San Antonio, OKC came out flat, falling behind 35-22 after a hot shooting first quarter from Victor Wembanyama and Co. The Spurs superstar hit 3 early 3-pointers as part of his 11-point, 5-rebound opening frame as his team shot a blistering 8-for-14 from deep (57.1%).
Despite their championship mettle, the Thunder were unable to match San Antonio’s desperation all night, as they never led in the 27-point blowout.
Fresh off his game-high 32-point performance in Game 5, Gilgeous-Alexander couldn’t get going at Frost Bank Center. He finished with just 15 points, 1 rebound, and 4 assists, while shooting 6-for-18 (33.3%) before sitting out the fourth quarter with the game well out of reach.
After not scoring below 20 points even once across 68 regular-season outings, Gilgeous-Alexander looked out of sorts, repeatedly missing the mark on his jumpers, including going 0-for-5 from long range. He also only attempted 3 free throws, seemingly struggling to adjust to a tighter whistle after receiving a postseason career-high-tying 17 free-throw attempts in Game 5.
SGA tonight:
15 PTS
6/18 FGM
0/5 3PM
38.8% TSpic.twitter.com/zOJui1uzwY— NBA Tour Dates (@NBATourDates) May 29, 2026
Still, the NBA community on X didn’t have any sympathy for Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been a magnet for criticism throughout the playoffs due to his divisive foul-drawing tactics.
“Spurs brought out the CLAMPS 😳,” Bleacher Report captioned the four-time All-Star’s subpar stat line.
SGA IN GAME 6
15 PTS
6-18 FG
0-5 3PMSpurs brought out the CLAMPS 😳 pic.twitter.com/YWPmTFple3
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 29, 2026
“As soon as I think SGA has had his worst game of the playoffs, he somehow has an even worse one. Never fails to amaze me,” a LeBron James parody account wrote.
As soon as i think SGA has had his worst game of the playoffs, he somehow has an even worse one
Never fails to amaze me
— ✧.* (@HoodiiBron) May 29, 2026
“SGA just had the worst game of his career,” content creator Ahmed/The Ears asserted.
SGA just had the worst game of his career
I’m bout to cry bro
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) May 29, 2026
“No BS, SGA is actually the worst MVP of all time. He isn’t the most valuable even on his team, and nothing he does is special,” content creator Nadia Amine piled on.
no bs, sga is actually the worse mvp of all time. he isn’t the most valuable even on his team, and nothing he does is special.
— nadia (@TheNadiaAmine) May 29, 2026
“I’m actually stunned at how dogs**t SGA has been since the [Los Angeles] Lakers series began. It’s not even just his stats (which are extremely disappointing), it’s his lack of impact. I don’t even notice him unless he’s flopping. He should be absolutely embarrassed by his performance,” sports YouTuber Barry McCockiner opined.
I’m actually stunned at how dogshit SGA has been since the Lakers series began. It’s not even just his stats (which are extremely disappointing), it’s his lack of impact. I don’t even notice him unless he’s flopping.
He should be absolutely embarrassed by his performance.
— Barry (@BarryOnHere) May 29, 2026
Per ESPN, with his game-worst minus-28 plus-minus, Gilgeous-Alexander tied Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid (2023) for the “lowest plus-minus by the NBA’s MVP in a clinching opportunity in the play-by-play era (since 1997).”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s -28 plus-minus is tied with 2023 Joel Embiid for the lowest plus-minus by the NBA’s MVP in a clinching opportunity in the play-by-play era (since 1997) 😳 pic.twitter.com/2ID2PGmi9N
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) May 29, 2026
As for Gilgeous-Alexander’s take on his shooting struggles, the 27-year-old noted postgame that he’s “not too sure” how to overcome them, before acknowledging that “it’s too late to abandon” the work that got him to this point.
The Thunder will look to capitalize on their home-court advantage during Saturday’s momentous Game 7 showdown, with the winner advancing to face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.
