Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP Aspirations Hang In The Balance As OKC Thunder Face Lakers In Pivotal Monday Matchup

Photo: Instagram/Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Oklahoma City Thunder (42-18) look to cement their status as Western Conference leaders with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the team's standout guard and two-time All-Star, currently holds the spotlight in the MVP race, sitting second in odds according to FanDuel.

Fresh off a triumph against the Phoenix Suns, the Thunder face the Lakers and LeBron James on NBA TV, presenting a prime opportunity for Gilgeous-Alexander to showcase his prowess.

Photo: Instagram/Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

If he can deliver another stellar performance, overcoming a rest disadvantage, it could sway the MVP race firmly in his favor.

Averaging an impressive 31.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game, Gilgeous-Alexander has been a force on both ends of the court.

His remarkable efficiency, shooting at 54 percent from the floor, 38 percent from beyond the arc, and 88 percent at the free-throw line, further bolsters his MVP candidacy.

With the Thunder positioned for a playoff run and boasting a top-five offense and defense, a win on Monday could pave the way for Gilgeous-Alexander to claim the Most Valuable Player Award. The outcome against the Lakers, coupled with a favorable projection against Portland on Wednesday, may well solidify the Thunder's claim as the best team in the conference, elevating Gilgeous-Alexander to MVP frontrunner. (Source: Sports Illustrated)

Read Next: Ben Simmons' Agent Takes Responsibility For Ongoing Injury Woes, Promises Offseason Resolution

Comments

Post a Comment

Trending Now

Liam Payne's Cause of Death Revealed In Preliminary Autopsy

Image
Photo: Liam Payne (Instagram) Liam Payne , former member of the boy band One Direction, passed away after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  A preliminary autopsy has revealed that he died from severe injuries and both internal and external bleeding. Payne, 31, fell from the CasaSur Palermo Hotel balcony on Wednesday. He reportedly fell from about 43 to 46 feet onto an internal patio. According to authorities, Payne was alone at the time, and there is speculation that he may have been experiencing a drug-related incident. Photo: Liam Payne (Instagram) A hotel staff member had called emergency services before the fall, expressing concern about Payne's condition. They mentioned that he had taken drugs and alcohol, and they were worried he might harm himself. Payne rose to fame with One Direction in 2010 after the group formed on the TV show The X Factor . After the band split in 2015, Payne pursued a solo career, with his most popular song being "Strip Tha
Read More

Travis Kelce Predicts Criticism if Chiefs Lose, Mentions Taylor Swift

Image
Photo: Travis Kelce (Instagram) Travis Kelce , the star player for the Kansas City Chiefs, says he expects people to criticize him and Taylor Swift if his team loses a game. On his podcast "New Heights," Kelce shared his thoughts about the pressure that comes with being undefeated.  He said that if the Chiefs lose, people will come down hard on him. "I've just got to keep winning," he said. "If we lose a game, it’s going to rain down on me." The Chiefs are currently 5-0 and are set to play the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday, in a rematch of Super Bowl LVIII.  Despite some injuries, the team is doing well, and Kelce has faced some early criticism for a slow start . However, Pat McAfee, a former NFL player and podcast guest, praised Kelce and his relationship with Taylor Swift. McAfee said it was great for the sport and called Kelce a perfect example of how to represent the NFL. Photo: Travis Kelce (Instagram) Taylor Swift has been seen at three of the
Read More

Anthony Edwards Talks About Leadership And MVP Dreams

Image
Photo: Anthony Edwards (Instagram) Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards recently shared his thoughts on the leadership styles of NBA legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant . Edwards, often compared to Jordan because of their similar playing style, has a different view on how to lead a team. In an interview with Chris Tucker for Interview Magazine , Edwards said leadership in today’s NBA has changed. "You can’t talk to everyone the same," Edwards explained. "Some players you can be tough on, but others need a softer approach. You can’t cuss everyone out in front of the team." Edwards has spoken before about how Jordan was the standout player of his era, which led to some reactions from NBA stars like Magic Johnson and Kevin Garnett . Photo: Anthony Edwards (Instagram) As the Timberwolves prepare for the new season, Edwards has his sights set on winning the MVP award. “For sure, no question, I’m going for MVP,” he told NBA TV. “I’ve got a great team and coac
Read More

Former One Direction Singer Liam Payne Dead at 31 After Fall In Argentina

Image
Photo: Liam Payne (Instagram) Liam Payne, former member of the boy band One Direction, has died at the age of 31. Payne was found dead at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after falling from his balcony, according to local officials. Police responded to an emergency call about a man behaving aggressively, possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Shortly after they arrived, Payne was found in the hotel courtyard, having fallen from a height of about 42 to 45 feet. Emergency services confirmed his death shortly after 5 p.m. Alberto Crescenti, head of Argentina’s emergency medical services, said the injuries were severe and could not be survived. Authorities are investigating the circumstances, including whether Payne’s fall was accidental or intentional. Photo: Liam Payne (Instagram) Payne had been in Argentina recently, supporting his former bandmate Niall Horan at a concert. He leaves behind a 7-year-old son, Bear, whom he shares with singer Cheryl Cole. Li
Read More

Katy Perry's Career Struggles: Is Orlando Bloom To Blame?

Image
Photo: Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom (Instagram) Katy Perry's recent attempt to return to the top of the music charts has not gone as planned. According to insiders, her husband, actor Orlando Bloom, may have played a part in the setback. Perry, 39, has faced criticism for her latest album 143 , which was released on September 20. Fans and critics alike have been underwhelmed by both the album and her performances. A source told Life & Style  magazine that Perry's decision to focus more on her sex appeal was encouraged by Bloom, but it hasn't worked out as hoped. "Katy's fans expected more from her, and this album didn’t deliver," the source shared. "Orlando thought it was a good idea, but now Katy is dealing with negative reviews and a lack of excitement from her fans." Photo: Katy Perry (Instagram) The album’s lead single, Woman’s World , failed to make a big impact, peaking at No. 63 on the Billboard charts. Perry, who once dominated the pop world
Read More

LeBron James On Playing With Steph Curry: Will They Team Up Again?

Image
Photo: Stephen Curry, LeBron James (Instagram) LeBron James , star of the Los Angeles Lakers, recently shared his thoughts on playing alongside Stephen Curry . The two NBA greats teamed up earlier this year during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as part of Team USA, helping lead the team to a gold medal . It was the first time they had played on the same team in their careers. This week, James and Curry will face each other again, but this time as rivals. The Lakers and Golden State Warriors will play two preseason games — one on Tuesday at the Crypto.com Arena and another on Friday at the Chase Center. James and Curry have a long history, having faced each other in the NBA Finals for four straight years when James played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Curry's Warriors won three of those matchups, while James and the Cavaliers claimed one victory. Photo: Stephen Curry, LeBron James (Instagram) Over the years, their relationship has grown from rivals to friends, with James even acting as
Read More

Joker Sequel Drops $33M at Box Office

Image
Photo: Lady Gaga (Instagram) The movie Joker: Folie à Deux  had a tough second weekend at the North American box office, with earnings falling from $40 million to just $7.1 million. That’s an 80% drop, a record for a comic-book movie. The sequel was beaten by Terrifier 3 , an indie horror film, which made $18.2 million. In second place was the animated movie The Wild Robot  with $13.4 million. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice  dropped to fourth with $7 million. Critics have mixed feelings about Joker: Folie à Deux , starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga . Some call it "bleak and daring," while others say it’s "depressingly dull." Photo: Lady Gaga (Instagram) In fifth place was Piece by Piece , a comedy-drama made with Lego animation. It features voices from stars like Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, and Gwen Stefani. Meanwhile, The Apprentice , a film about Donald Trump , opened in tenth place with $1.6 million. It tells the story of Trump’s early years as a property developer in New Y
Read More

LeBron James’ Former Teammate Reveals Why He Nicknamed Him 'Heaven Sent'

Image
Photo: LeBron James (Instagram) In a recent episode of the "All the Smoke" podcast, former NBA player Mateen Cleaves shared how he came up with the nickname “Heaven Sent” for LeBron James . Cleaves explained that he thought of the name after watching LeBron play during his rookie season. When asked about LeBron's first year, Cleaves said, "It was different. I gave him the nickname Heaven Sent because he was so good right from the start. I thought, 'He can't be that good.' But then, practicing with him, I realized he was the real deal. He had an amazing feel for the game and could do anything he wanted on the court." Cleaves played in the NBA for six seasons, including one year with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he saw LeBron shine. While many basketball stars take years to reach their peak, LeBron made an immediate impact. Standing 6'9" and coming out of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, he drew comparisons to legends like Magic Johnson an
Read More

UK Government Helped Secure Police Escort For Taylor Swift After Her Mom's Worries

Image
Photo: Taylor Swift (Instagram) Taylor Swift ’s police escort during her concerts in London this summer was approved after the UK government got involved, according to a report by The Times of London . Swift performed at Wembley Stadium as part of her record-breaking "Eras Tour." It was revealed that UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and London Mayor Sadiq Khan pushed the police to provide extra protection for the singer, which was funded by taxpayers. Normally, such high-level security is only given to top government officials or the royal family.  Photo: Taylor Swift (Instagram) However, after Swift’s mother, Andrea, threatened to cancel her London shows, the government stepped in. Andrea was concerned after a suicide bomb plot caused the cancellation of Swift’s concert in Vienna. Reports suggest that cancelling the London shows would have been a big financial loss, as Swift’s tour reportedly boosted UK spending by nearly £1 billion. Read Next: Joker Sequel Drops $33M at Box
Read More

Darvin Ham Talks About Lakers Firing For The First Time

Image
Photo: Darvin Ham (Instagram) Darvin Ham , the former head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, spoke out for the first time since being let go this summer. After two years leading the Lakers, Ham was fired despite having a 90-74 record and making the playoffs twice. Both of those playoff runs ended in losses to the Denver Nuggets, first in the Western Conference Finals, then in the first round. Ham's overall record wasn’t bad, especially for a first-time head coach. He won more games than he lost and came close to making the NBA Finals. However, he couldn’t fully get the players to follow his lead, which led to him being fired. Some also felt he wasted two great seasons from LeBron James and a healthy Anthony Davis . Now, Ham is back with the Milwaukee Bucks as an assistant coach under Doc Rivers . In his first public comments since being fired, Ham told ESPN he has no hard feelings toward the Lakers. Photo: Darvin Ham (Instagram) “When they hired me, the team wasn’t in great shape,
Read More