The Oklahoma City Thunder must have felt they had every chance to close the series. But a sloppy end to the second quarter and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s foul trouble cost them the game. The responsibility of keeping them stable fell onto Jalen Williams. He rose to All-Star status this season, being able to play well besides SGA. But in this series, Williams’ search for success hasn’t resulted in an end product.

Tonight was another rough night. The 24-year-old only shot 3 for 16 from the field, failing to serve as the Thunder’s silky second option. Having shot at only 33.7% from the field in the entire series, Williams’ shortcomings are a big reason why we now have a Game 7. However, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t worried.

Aware of the potential Williams has, and having been through the trenches of criticism himself, SGA had one message – Look forward to the next game.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s life. It’s basketball. Tonight wasn’t his night clearly. And um the best part about it all is he has an opportunity to I guess change all that. Like he has a big game next game, nobody remembers, nobody cares, and he doesn’t either. So, um, yeah, just get ready for the next opportunity. Like I, um, always tell the guys, there’s always something ahead of you. Um, and learn from your experiences, which he has done a great job of all year, so I don’t worry about that,” he said about Williams.

In a fight for survival, every bucket matters. Considering it’s a Game 7, it may not be a high-scoring game due to the collective fatigue. In such a setting, even a remotely efficient game from Jalen Williams could make a massive difference. The Thunder will have a home crowd that will stay loud for 48 minutes and longer, if necessary.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is also going to be the prime target for the Nuggets’ defense. Hence, it’s vital for Williams and the other Thunder players to supply key contributions.

As Hoop Collective’s Tim Bontemps noted, “The Thunder are probably gonna need Jalen Williams to be better than 27% from the field and 14% from three if they want to get this series over with and get to the Western Conference Finals.” However, one game is enough to change a narrative.

And even though it’s a do-or-die matchup, the Thunder seem to be embracing the opportunity.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can’t wait for Game 7

From the time the Thunder finished as the number one seed for the second consecutive season, analysts have been worried. They feel the team lacks experience in comparison to their Western Conference competition. Game 7 will be where those non-tangibles come into play. The Nuggets’ star tandem – Nikola Jokic and Murray – have been in six Game 7’s.

Having felt the nerves of the occasion makes it a little easier for players to manage their emotions. For OKC, only three players have felt the atmosphere of a Game 7. Not a single player has made multiple appearances in similar setting.

But despite their disadvantage, there are two ways to look at it. Either players can be buried under the highly intense affair. Or they can do what Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did and prepare themselves for what is also a rare opportunity to make history

“Yeah, it’s do or die. 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, yeah, I’m excited for the opportunity for sure,” he said after the Thunder’s Game 6 loss.

Not many players in NBA history have had a taste of what a Game 7 is really like. The Thunder and the Nuggets are fighting for the opportunity to move one step closer to the NBA Finals. Only this time, there is no room for error and no next game to make things right. For Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a favorite to win MVP, the big moments are what define his personality.

And given how young the Thunder are, maybe marching toward a Game 7 with a relaxed mindset is what will propel them to play their best basketball. It’s in the essence of the game. When you enjoy playing, that’s when the true thrill of basketball truly courses through your veins. That’s how SGA and OKC seem to be looking forward to this ‘opportunity.’