The NBA Most Valuable Player said, “You got to suck it up,” the day after the Pacers won game three at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis after rallying in the fourth quarter to take the lead in the best-of-seven series.
“The season has a maximum of four games remaining. It’s what you spent the entire season working toward. You spent the entire summer working toward that.
“To me, the way I see it, you got to suck it up, get it done and try to get a win.”
When Gilgeous-Alexander’s output declined in the fourth quarter of game three, he didn’t really admit that exhaustion was a contributing role.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the leading scorer of the regular season, having scored 72 points between games one and two, including 34 in Oklahoma City’s victory in game two.
However, he concluded Wednesday with 24 points, including just three in the fourth quarter, and his highest number of turnovers in a playoff game was six.
“I think we’re trying to make it tough on him,” stated Andrew Nembhard of Indiana, who has been successful in protecting Gilgeous-Alexander. “The main thing is that you keep attempting to make things difficult for him. It requires teamwork. To finish, we must all be restrained and bound together on that end of the floor.”
However, when Indiana outscored OKC 32-18 in the fourth quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander stated he was “not too sure” if weariness was a factor. His response was, “I don’t think so,” “The game is physical. There have been many physical games between us. There have been games like that when I’ve stunk late and games where I’ve been fantastic late.
He went on to say that he could only play his own game. “The way I play and approach the game has become so instinctive. It’s simply a component of who I am. “I lead in the same way. It has been a natural part of who I am for the entire year. Mark Daigneault, the coach of the Thunder, had faith that Gilgeous-Alexander will adjust.
“I think one of his superpowers is the ability to get into the next possession, the next game, the next experience,” Daigneault stated. “He’s the last guy I’m worried about with that.”