The Oklahoma City Thunder guard was cool under pressure and has experience with the playoffs on Wednesday when his club travelled to New Orleans as the No. 10 seed to face the Pelicans.
It's a spiral effect when your leader is calm and in control outside, Thunder guard Josh Giddey said. "Guys see that and feed off of it."
Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to a 123-118 victory after having one of his statistically worst first halves of the season. This victory gave Oklahoma City a chance to compete for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points, while Giddey finished with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Gilgeous-Alexander was held to a season-low seven first-half points as a result of the Pelicans' best efforts to deny him the ball and frequent double teams. Gilgeous-Alexander had only been held to fewer than ten points five times all season.
It would have been simple for him to come out of halftime pushing and trying to get his game going, but Giddey stated that instead, the player let it come to him naturally. He had a difficult first half and finished with 32. That only serves to highlight how talented a player he is.
Gilgeous-Alexander claimed that he was aware of the Pelicans' defence strategy and that the club had prepared for it before to the game.
Gilgeous-Alexander has participated in 13 playoff games in his career, including a seven-game series with the Thunder in the 2020 playoffs. Following that campaign, the franchise decided to rebuild and dealt Chris Paul to the Phoenix Suns.
A 40-42 record and the No. 10 seed in the play-in tournament were made possible in large part by Gilgeous-Alexander. Giddey claimed that Gilegous-Alexander's leadership qualities in the first half, when the Thunder fell down by nine points in the first quarter, helped set the tone for the remainder of the game.
The Thunder will travel to play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night for the chance to earn the No. 8 seed in the playoffs if they win.