SGA's 42 pushes Thunder to 3-0 lead on Suns
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- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career playoff-high 42 points on 15-of-18 shooting with a game-high 8 assists, becoming just the fifth player in NBA history with 40+ on 80%+ shooting in a playoff game — a feat last accomplished by Devin Booker in 2023
- SGA went 14-of-16 off the dribble, 8-of-10 on contested shots, 3-of-3 against double-teams, and scored 25 of his 42 in the second half after making his first eight shots
- After splitting Phoenix defenders and scoring through contact without a foul call, SGA shouted "I don't need it!" — a direct retort to Dillon Brooks calling him "frail" and accusing him of "flopping and falling" to draw fouls
- The Thunder lead 3-0 in the first-round series and can sweep Monday in Game 4, the franchise's third consecutive first-round sweep
- Jalen Williams is sidelined with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, scheduled for reevaluation Thursday and unlikely to return this series even if it extends
- SGA had reminded teammates of last year's road Game 3 troubles — a 31-point comeback win over Memphis and Game 3 losses to Denver, Minnesota, and Indiana
Why it matters: The Thunder are one win from a third straight first-round sweep, and they're doing it without Jalen Williams. SGA's 42 on 15-of-18 shooting — including 8-of-10 on contested looks and a shouted "I don't need it!" retort to Dillon Brooks calling him "frail" — silenced the foul-baiting criticism with the most efficient 40-point playoff game since Devin Booker in 2023.
