Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is feeling ready for Game 7.
"It's do-or-die," Gilgeous-Alexander said Thursday after the Oklahoma City Thunder's Game 6 loss to the Denver Nuggets. "It's what you live for. It's what you worked your whole life for. It's either your dream continues or your dream ends, so you lay it all out there on the floor and live with the results. But I'm excited for the opportunity, for sure."
He led his team in scoring, posting 32 points and six assists. Chet Holmgren was the only other Thunder player to score more than 10 points, adding 19 to go along with 10 rebounds.
Gilgeous-Alexander also offered encouragement for All-Star teammate Jalen Williams, who recorded six points on 3-for-16 shooting in the 119-107 defeat.
"It's life," Gilgeous-Alexander said, according to Clemente Almanza of OKC Thunder Wire. "It's basketball. Tonight wasn't his night, clearly. Best part about it is he'll have an opportunity to change that if he has a big game next game."
Going into Game 6, Gilgeous-Alexander was averaging 28 points, 6.7 assists, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per playoff contest. The 26-year-old has shot 44.6% from the field and 24% from three.
The Thunder won 68 games during the regular season, the most in franchise history. They earned the top overall seed in the playoffs and swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the likely MVP, averaged 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game in the regular season.
Oklahoma City hosts Game 7 on Sunday.
