Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Struggles in Game 6 Blowout, Thunder Face Decisive Game 7

The Oklahoma City Thunder fell flat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, suffering a lopsided 91-108 loss to the Indiana Pacers, as the series is now tied 3-3 and headed for a do-or-die Game 7.

At the heart of OKC’s struggles was star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), who turned in one of his toughest performances of the season.

📊 Shai’s Game 6 Stat Line:

15 FGA | 7 FG | 21 PTS | 4 REB | 2 AST | 8 TO | -17 in 31 minutes

📝 Tough Start, Tougher Finish

SGA opened the night under heavy defensive pressure, getting picked twice early by Andrew Nembhard. While he managed to get on the board with his trademark floaters and free throws, the turnovers piled up — 3 in the first quarter alone.

Despite SGA’s 7 points in the opening frame, the Thunder trailed by 3 after one.

🔻 Second Quarter Collapse

Gilgeous-Alexander did his best to steady the ship, scoring consistently while the rest of the Thunder struggled to find rhythm. But when Tyrese Haliburton checked back in, the game quickly spiraled out of control. Indiana went on an 11-0 run, and OKC’s offense flatlined.

Thunder managed just 9 points in the final 6 minutes of the half, with SGA and Chet Holmgren accounting for all of them. At the break, OKC faced a 22-point deficit.

🚨 Third Quarter Breakdown

The second half opened with OKC enduring a brutal 5-minute scoreless stretch, while Indiana pushed the lead to 28. SGA briefly ignited a Thunder spurt, connecting with Isaiah Hartenstein for an alley-oop and earning trips to the line, sparking an 8-0 mini-run.

But the momentum didn’t last. Indiana’s bench poured in threes and Sheppard capped the third quarter with a buzzer-beater, sending OKC into the fourth down 30 points.

🏳️ Early Surrender

With the outcome clear, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault benched his starters for the fourth quarter, leaving Gilgeous-Alexander to watch helplessly from the sideline as OKC absorbed one of its worst playoff losses of the year.

⚡️ Game 7 Awaits

Now, it all comes down to one night. Game 7 will take place Monday in Oklahoma City, with the Thunder looking to capture their first NBA title in franchise history. For that to happen, SGA must bounce back decisively, erasing the sting of Game 6 and delivering the superstar performance Thunder fans have seen all season long.