The Oklahoma City Thunder concluded their regular season with an impressive 68-14 record, setting a new NBA benchmark for point differential. Boasting a roster perceived as championship-caliber, they faced the Denver Nuggets in a decisive Game 7 on Sunday. This pivotal match offered the franchise its first opportunity since 2016 to secure a spot in the conference finals. A win would mark a momentous achievement, while a loss would represent a significant setback.
The intense pressure inherent in these situations is precisely why Game 7s captivate audiences. Following the contest, Thunder guard Alex Caruso spoke to reporters, emphasizing that experiencing such high stakes is completely normal.
“`If you don`t feel anything leading up to it, you`re probably like a serial killer,` Caruso stated. `You need to be checked out.`”
Caruso personally met the challenge on Sunday. Entering the game off the bench, his defense profoundly altered the dynamics. He spent considerable time guarding three-time MVP Nikola Jokić directly and actively worked to disrupt Denver`s offense in various ways. Despite Oklahoma City`s dominant 125-93 victory, Caruso admitted to feeling “a little anxious” as the game approached.
He clarified that his anxiety stemmed more from his eagerness to get the game underway rather than apprehension about the possibility of their season ending.“`I was ready to play and I was ready to get to the game,` Caruso said. `There was nothing else to do. We`d played each other six times. We knew what they were going to do, they knew what we were going to do. It`s about going out there and competing and playing.`”
Caruso mentioned getting “a full nine-and-a-half hours” of sleep on Saturday night. He then woke up, “watched some of the PGA Championship,” and simply felt ready to play after having two days off.
In contrast, Thunder teammate Jalen Williams reported that he “didn`t really go to sleep” the night before the game. When asked further, Williams clarified he only slept “a little bit,” attributing this to being “hyped up to play and excited” rather than feeling nervous or pressured.
“`You never know how many Game 7s you`re going to get, and it`s an opportunity to be great,` Williams commented.”
Williams, who had faced offensive struggles for much of the series, delivered a crucial performance in Game 7, scoring 24 points on 10-for-17 shooting, along with five rebounds, seven assists, and a steal in 33 minutes. His 17 points in the second quarter were vital in helping the Thunder build a significant lead, and his defensive effort remained exceptional.
Oklahoma City`s cornerstone player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, was also candid about experiencing pregame jitters.
“`I was nervous, to be honest,` Gilgeous-Alexander confessed. `Just knowing what`s on the line — we`ve worked so hard, the whole 82-game season, we`ve all worked so hard in the summer. To know if you don`t bring your `A` game, it could all be over with, all for nothing.`”
For Gilgeous-Alexander, these nerves were more than just a sign he wasn`t a “serial killer”; he viewed them as a source of motivation.
“`I think that nervousness motivated me and helped me play today, helped me give my all on both ends of the floor,` he explained. `And I used it to my advantage.`”
Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 35 points, shooting 12-for-19 from the field and making three out of four three-point attempts. He also contributed three rebounds, four assists, three steals, a block, and remarkably, committed zero turnovers in 36 minutes. However, the outcome wasn`t assured early on; eight minutes into the game, the Nuggets held a 21-10 lead, and the Thunder were shooting poorly (5 for 16 overall, 0 for 6 from three-point range). Gilgeous-Alexander felt the team started the game feeling “tight.”
“`The nerves was natural,` Gilgeous-Alexander said. `We actually shot horrible to start the game, but I knew we were getting really good looks and if we just stuck with it, that we would loosen up and the ball would find the basket.`”
Considering the Thunder`s dominant performance against Denver on Sunday, their experience can serve as a reminder the next time you feel anxious about a high-stakes situation. It simply indicates you`re human, not a “serial killer,” and that energy can be successfully channeled into the task at hand.
Jasper Hawthorne