Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander explains tense moment with Jared McCain

The Western Conference Finals are turning into an absolute trash-talk showcase, and things got incredibly tense down the stretch of Game 2. The Oklahoma City Thunder locked down a crucial 122-113 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night to tie the series at 1-1.

While the game featured plenty of fireworks, the loudest moment came late in the fourth quarter when Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drilled a cold-blooded dagger, then immediately turned around to bark at his own teammate, rookie guard Jared McCain.

Fans on social media quickly noticed the intense exchange, wondering why the normally even-keeled MVP was shouting at his fellow Thunder guard. Postgame, Gilgeous-Alexander kept it completely transparent about why he let his emotions boil over during the high-stakes sequence.

“Jared was yelling at me while I was shooting, and I was just like, ‘Bro, I’m shooting. Don’t distract me,'” Gilgeous-Alexander explained with a smile.

"Jared was yelling at me while I was shooting, and I was just like, 'Bro, I'm shooting. Don't distract me.'"

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on what he said to Jared McCain after drilling the dagger

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/5ca3tFyt6O

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Even with his own rookie asking for a pass loudly mid-shot, the back-to-back MVP absolutely dominated the evening. He bounced back from a rough series opener to torch the visitors for a game-high 30 points on 12-of-24 shooting. Gilgeous-Alexander also dished out nine assists and grabbed four rebounds in 38 minutes, orchestrating an offense that punished San Antonio’s mistakes.

McCain did his part off the bench too, chipping in 12 points, including a massive banked-in three-pointer during a decisive 11-0 fourth-quarter run.

San Antonio fought valiantly despite a highly depleted backcourt, led by sophomore guard Stephon Castle’s 25 points and Victor Wembanyama’s monster line of 21 points, 17 rebounds, and four blocks.

Ultimately, Gilgeous-Alexander’s late-game execution proved too much for the short-handed Spurs. With the series shifting to San Antonio on Friday night, expect the intensity to reach an entirely new level.

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