The Oklahoma State Thunder made its first Western Conference Finals since Russell Westbrook-Kevin Durant era and Shea Kyrgyz-Alexand are the people of the moment.
Despite his calm manner, SGA was still anxious in his team's 7 125-93 victory.
“I’m nervous to be honest,” Gill Alxard said. “Just know what this line is. … You know if you don't bring the A game, everything might be over. But I think this nervous motivation inspired me.”
The SGA scored a top 35 points, but Oklahoma didn't start the game well.
The turnaround took place in the second quarter as the Thunder took a 60-46 lead in the final 3:11 of the half.
“I think the nerves are natural,” Gill Axend said. “We were actually a bad shot to start the game. But I know we looked really good and if we stick with it, we would relax and the ball would find the rim.
“I never worried about this, the way we started. Once I felt the flow of the game, we had the right intentions and the right energy, and I knew it would turn around.”
Alex Caruso is a huge difference maker for the Thunder, who blocked Nikola Jokic's track with locked in defense and often set the big guys apart.
Caruso defended Jokic in Game 7 for 40 halftime matchups, the most Jokic has ever had in any game in his career.
“It’s a lot of hard work,” Caruso said. “Obviously, he's an amazing player. His resume talks, but he's a tough showdown because he does a lot of different things to get others involved and influence the game.
“So, for me, it’s just about competing… the energy to which I’m relentless, making him hard work on him, and obviously the guys around me are helping and flocking to because I’m not alone to do that.”
Now OKC will face the Timberwolves, a young team that is also eager to improve.
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