Spurs limit SGA to 20.3 attempts

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has not seen a light-volume series against San Antonio, but the Spurs have still kept his shot count below some of his higher-usage norms. In 13 recent games against the Spurs listed by StatMuse, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 20.3 field-goal attempts, based on game-log data through the 2025-26 season. (statmuse.com) Oklahoma City and San Antonio are tied 1-1 in the Western Conference finals, with Game 3 scheduled for Friday night in San Antonio. (statmuse.com) The two conference-finals games so far have fit that pattern only partly. (nba.com) Gilgeous-Alexander took 23 shots in Game 1 and 24 in Game 2, according to StatMuse, numbers that put him at a 23.5-attempt average in the series entering Friday. He scored 24 points in Oklahoma City's 122-115 double-overtime loss on May 18, then 30 points in a 122-113 win on May 20. (statmuse.com) ### How much have the Spurs actually reduced Gilgeous-Alexander's volume? StatMuse's game log shows the 20.3 figure comes from a 13-game sample of Gilgeous-Alexander's most recent meetings with San Antonio. (nba.com) The listed shot totals in those games were 23, 19, 23, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 16, 17, 17, 21 and 18. That number matters because Gilgeous-Alexander often operates as a high-touch scorer for Oklahoma City. (statmuse.com) In this series, he has still produced 27.0 points and 10.5 assists per game, while the NBA's West finals page lists him as Oklahoma City's series leader in scoring and assists. ### What do the first two games say about San Antonio's approach? Game 1 and Game 2 suggest San Antonio has not eliminated Gilgeous-Alexander's usage, but it has made him work through heavy volume and mixed efficiency. StatMuse lists him at 7-for-23 from the field in Game 1 and 12-for-24 in Game 2. (statmuse.com) The social-media betting analysis cited in the card said San Antonio ranked in the top five against Gilgeous-Alexander actions in pick-and-roll, isolation and transition, though that claim could not be independently verified from a primary league database in the materials reviewed. (statmuse.com) The verified part is narrower: through two games, the Spurs have held him to 40.4% shooting from the field in the series. ### Has Oklahoma City still found offense through him? The NBA's series page says yes. Gilgeous-Alexander responded in Game 2 with 30 points as Oklahoma City evened the series, and the page lists the Thunder at 118.5 points per game through two contests. (statmuse.com) That means the question entering Friday is less about whether he will shoot and more about how efficiently those attempts come. His current 23.5 attempts per game in the series are above the 20.3 average from the 13-game Spurs sample, but his 40.4% field-goal mark shows San Antonio has still affected the quality of those looks. (statmuse.com) ### When and where is the next test? Friday, May 22, is the next checkpoint. NBA.com lists Game 3 of Thunder-Spurs for 8:30 p.m. ET in San Antonio, with NBC and Peacock carrying the broadcast. (nba.com) Sunday, May 24, brings Game 4 in San Antonio at 8 p.m. ET, according to the league schedule, before the series shifts back to Oklahoma City for Game 5 on May 26. (nba.com) (statmuse.com)