As he walked off the court in the immediate aftermath of the Oklahoma City Thunder's 113-104 overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of the conference semifinals on Friday night, Thunder star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander flashed a wide smile. Given the way the Thunder, who collectively scored two points in overtime, had just been defeated, it was a bit odd to see Gilgeous-Alexander in such a seemingly jovial mood.
Some fans on social media were even upset by his demeanor.
After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander explained to reporters that he was smiling because he was being taunted by fans while walking off the court.
"Some fans were taunting me... It's easy to taunt when you're up." 👀
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 10, 2025
SGA explains why he was smiling as he walked off the court in Game 3 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/bGms8Ty7qK
"Some fans were taunting me," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "And I know how the game goes. I know how life is. It's easy to taunt when you're up. And I don't ever want to show them that I'm defeated or mad or anything like that. Nothing's written. The series is not over. And we have a lot to be optimistic about.
"I didn't perform the way I [wanted to] down the stretch but I have an opportunity the next game and the next game after that to make up for it. I'm optimistic about it."
Gilegous-Alexander scored a combined three points in the fourth quarter and overtime on 1-of-8 shooting. Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA's leading scorer and a finalist for the MVP award, did not score in the overtime period.
"The game gets slower late game," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Execution matters more. But in those moments when the game slows down, it usually comes down to your best players making shots and making plays. And I didn't do a good enough job of that tonight. And I think that's the main reason for the outcome."
"Yeah so I think it's more so that than anything else to be honest."
Game 4, which will tip off on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET, will present a chance for Gilgeous-Alexander to bounce back with the Thunder trailing 2-1 in the series.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Explained Why He Was Smiling After Thunder Loss.
