In a dominant Sport 1 win, Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the story for all of the mistaken causes.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who jumped into site visitors on a number of events Tuesday and drew a foul name to snag free throw makes an attempt, was even known as a “free throw merchant” on the TV broadcast by ESPN’s Doris Burke.
“There’s a reason NBA Twitter likes to call him ‘The Free Throw Merchant,’” Burke stated halfway by means of the primary quarter.
Burke was absolutely utilizing the time period in a extra endearing method than the followers at house had been saying it as they watched a second half rout of the Timberwolves within the Thunder’s 114-88 win.
Maybe Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards was considering the identical, as only a minute earlier than Burke made that remark, Edwards acquired a technical foul for tossing the ball at Alexander after he drew a taking pictures foul for the third time in only a few minutes.
Gilgeous-Alexander drew 4 generous-looking taking pictures fouls between 10:40 and seven:38 of the primary quarter.
The MVP candidate is averaging 9.2 free throw makes an attempt per sport within the playoffs, probably the most of any remaining participant and the second-most amongst gamers who’ve performed at the least six 2025 playoff video games.
One egregious second got here with slightly greater than three minutes left within the third quarter, when Gilgeous-Alexander drove right into a sea of Timberwolves earlier than tripping, falling down and producing a foul name.
Upon additional evaluation, it was revealed Alexander had tripped on his personal ft and fell to the ground with out being touched by defenders.
Minnesota coach Chris Finch challenged the play and gained –– even the ESPN broadcast throughout replay oculdn’t defend his flopping.
“I don’t know if that’s a foul,” Richard Jefferson stated on the printed. “Oh no, he just tripped … they’re reviewing that one.”
Mike Breen stayed principally silent because the ESPN broadcast continued to point out the embarrassing play by the anticipated league MVP.
Alexander was fouled 13 instances in the course of the sport, together with this one which was overturned, and lots of of them seemed ticky-tack the place he turned extra right into a theatrical dancer and actor than a basketball participant.
Finch informed reporters that there was numerous frustration with the officiating.
“There was a lot of frustration out there but you know we talked about that before the series started,” Finch stated postgame. “We have to be able to put that to the side and have a next play mentality.”
Gilgeous-Alexander is undoubtedly expert at it, however basketball purists weren’t comfortable in actual time.
Ringer founder Invoice Simmons stated on his podcast with visitor Zach Lowe that “if you’re Minnesota, the one thing that you’re going to come out of the game, is ‘We have to get a better whistle on these SGA calls.’”
Lowe added that the Timberwolves had been livid the entire sport and that “some clips will be sent to the league office between Games 1 and 2.”
“I feel like Shai is getting this whistle that no one else in the playoffs is getting,” Simmons added. “These little touch fouls or these bumps where you’re not sure who initiated the bumps and he’s just getting it.”
Alexander ended the sport 11 of 14 from the road, scoring 31 factors with 5 rebounds and 9 assists.
It will likely be fascinating to see if the officiating adjusts in Sport 2 on Thursday.
