OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) 鈥� Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made a loud statement in an MVP-worthy season with another 40-point performance Thursday night.
He was more excited about the one his Oklahoma City Thunder made with a in a matchup of the NBA's best.
鈥淭here鈥檚 obviously myself as the leading scorer of the team. I鈥檓 going to get most of the praise. But the world is seeing all of the -- we call them cockroaches in our locker room. Cockroaches and hyenas," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Those are the guys who do the little work, the guys that don鈥檛 get the most praise. They don鈥檛 average 30, but their part into our winning and our season is just as big, and I鈥檓 glad the world gets to see that.鈥�
The 6-foot-6 Gilgeous-Alexander had 40 points and eight assists in three quarters as the Western Conference-leading Thunder rolled past the East-leading Cavaliers 134-114. He made 17 of 26 shots, often breaking the Cavaliers down off the dribble and getting to the rim or hitting mid-range jumpers.
The runner-up for the NBA MVP award last season is averaging 31.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.0 assists for a Thunder team that tied Cleveland for the league鈥檚 best record at 34-6. He鈥檚 already been named Western Conference player of the month twice.
When asked if Gilgeous-Alexander was trying to make a statement in the game broadcast on TNT, allowing the small-market Thunder to show a larger audience than usual what they鈥檙e about, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault shrugged it off.
鈥淵ou know, he just looked the same,鈥� Daigneault said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why he鈥檚 so good. It鈥檚 like that pretty much every night. So he was on it, and I thought he maintained a pretty good floor game throughout it.鈥�
Fans have noticed it. In the third returns of All-Star fan balloting, the Canadian leads Western Conference guards -- well ahead of Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Anthony Edwards.
鈥淧ersonally, it feels good,鈥� Gilgeous-Alexander said. 鈥淎ll the hard work's paying off. Nothing鈥檚 guaranteed in life, so you take everything that goes your way as a blessing. Don鈥檛 take it for granted. That鈥檚 what I try to do. 鈥� Just trying not to get too wrapped up into it and keep plugging away at what your job is every night. That鈥檚 what I鈥檒l continue to do.鈥�
Gilgeous-Alexander鈥檚 best supporting cast member for now is Jalen Williams, especially since Chet Holmgren has been out with a hip fracture. Williams is averaging 20.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists in his third season. He hasn鈥檛 been an All-Star yet, but Gilgeous-Alexander believes that should change this year.
鈥淵ou can start with his points. He obviously averages 20 and very efficient,鈥� Gilgeous-Alexander said. 鈥淗e carries the load when I鈥檓 out of the game, makes plays for him and the guys around him.鈥�
When Gilgeous-Alexander praised Williams鈥� defensive versatility, it turned into a playful disagreement about Williams鈥� height. Williams says he鈥檚 6-6. Gilgeous-Alexander isn鈥檛 so sure.
鈥淎t 6-4, he鈥檚 able to guard all five positions on the basketball court,鈥� Gilgeous-Alexander said as Williams tried to interject. 鈥淟ike tonight, he guarded a 7-footer. I could never. And a lot of guys our size could never. Those types of things directly impact winning, and we clearly are winning basketball games. Nobody has his print on us winning basketball games more than Jalen Williams, and that鈥檚 why he deserves to be an All-Star.鈥�
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AP NBA:
Cliff Brunt, The Associated Press
