SGA on Game 3 loss: 'We got punched in the mouth today'

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn't mince his words when describing the Oklahoma City Thunder's 143-101 Game 3 loss Saturday night, and now his team is under pressure to respond after the rough defeat.

"It happens, like you're never gonna be perfect in life, in a long season," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "You get punched, it's about getting back up. It's about responding, and that's what the next challenge is.

"We got punched in the mouth today, and next game we're either gonna get back up or not and we'll lose a game. But we have a decision to make for sure."

The 2024-25 MVP was held to just 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting in the defeat. The Thunder as a team shot 40.7% from the field after shooting 50% in Games 1 and 2.

"Just didn't bring it from an energy and focus standpoint," Gilgeous-Alexander said, according to ESPN. "We just didn't have it. They obviously had it with the sense of urgency, knowing that if they go down 3-0 it's gonna be pretty tough. We just, what it felt like, just eased into the game and they didn't. And they blitzed us pretty early, and then we were never able to get back because of it."

The Timberwolves led by 20 after the first quarter and ballooned that advantage to 31 by halftime. Anthony Edwards finished with a game-high 30 points, and 20 of them came in the first half.

The Thunder still lead 2-1 in the Western Conference final, but Minnesota will look to even the series Monday in Game 4.