'Suck it up' - SGA says fatigue can't be a factor in NBA Finals
"You got to suck it up," the NBA Most Valuable Player said, a day after the Pacers rallied in the fourth quarter to seize the lead in the best-of-seven series with a game three victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
"There's a maximum four games left in the season. It's what you worked the whole season for. It's what you worked all summer for.
"To me, the way I see it, you got to suck it up, get it done and try to get a win."
Gilgeous-Alexander didn't actually acknowledge that fatigue was a factor as his production faded in the fourth quarter of game three.
The regular-season scoring leader, Gilgeous-Alexander had combined for 72 points in games one and two, including 34 in Oklahoma City's game-two win.
But he finished Wednesday with 24 points -- just three in the fourth quarter -- and committed six turnovers, his most ever in a playoff game.
"I think we're trying to make it tough on him," said Indiana's Andrew Nembhard, who has been effective defending Gilgeous-Alexander. "The biggest thing is just you're persistent, trying to make it tough on him. It's a team job. We all have to be locked in and tied together on that end of the floor to get it done."
But Gilgeous-Alexander said he was "not too sure" fatigue played a role when Indiana out-scored OKC 32-18 in the fourth quarter.
"I don't think so," he said. "It's a physical game. We've had plenty of physical games. We've had games like that where I've been great late, games where I've stunk late."
All he can do, he added, was stick to his own game.
"It's become so second nature the way I play, the way I think about the game. It's just part of who I am.
"My leadership is the same. It's been all year, been organic to who I am."
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was confident Gilgeous-Alexander will adapt.
"I think one of his superpowers is the ability to get into the next possession, the next game, the next experience," Daigneault said. "He's the last guy I'm worried about with that."
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France 24
3 days ago
- France 24
'Suck it up' - SGA says fatigue can't be a factor in NBA Finals
"You got to suck it up," the NBA Most Valuable Player said, a day after the Pacers rallied in the fourth quarter to seize the lead in the best-of-seven series with a game three victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. "There's a maximum four games left in the season. It's what you worked the whole season for. It's what you worked all summer for. "To me, the way I see it, you got to suck it up, get it done and try to get a win." Gilgeous-Alexander didn't actually acknowledge that fatigue was a factor as his production faded in the fourth quarter of game three. The regular-season scoring leader, Gilgeous-Alexander had combined for 72 points in games one and two, including 34 in Oklahoma City's game-two win. But he finished Wednesday with 24 points -- just three in the fourth quarter -- and committed six turnovers, his most ever in a playoff game. "I think we're trying to make it tough on him," said Indiana's Andrew Nembhard, who has been effective defending Gilgeous-Alexander. "The biggest thing is just you're persistent, trying to make it tough on him. It's a team job. We all have to be locked in and tied together on that end of the floor to get it done." But Gilgeous-Alexander said he was "not too sure" fatigue played a role when Indiana out-scored OKC 32-18 in the fourth quarter. "I don't think so," he said. "It's a physical game. We've had plenty of physical games. We've had games like that where I've been great late, games where I've stunk late." All he can do, he added, was stick to his own game. "It's become so second nature the way I play, the way I think about the game. It's just part of who I am. "My leadership is the same. It's been all year, been organic to who I am." Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was confident Gilgeous-Alexander will adapt. "I think one of his superpowers is the ability to get into the next possession, the next game, the next experience," Daigneault said. "He's the last guy I'm worried about with that."
France 24
3 days ago
- France 24
Real Madrid 'only' team I'd have left Liverpool for: Alexander-Arnold
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France 24
4 days ago
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Resilient Mathurin stars in Pacers win
Mathurin came off the bench to score 27 points in Indiana's 116-107 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, which gave the Pacers a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven championship series. In 22:24 minutes on court through the second and fourth quarters, Mathurin was a brutally efficient nine-of 12 from the field, making two of his three three-point attempts and seven of eight free-throws, adding in four rebounds an assist and a blocked shot for good measure. "Just staying ready," Mathurin said. "Whenever my number is called, go into the game and do the right things and try to help my team win -- that's the whole mindset." Mathurin is playing in the playoffs for the first time, after watching the Pacers' run to the Eastern Conference finals from the bench in the wake of season-ending surgery in March of 2024. Even then, the Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said, the 22-year-old Canadian was looking ahead. "He was with the team. He just wasn't playing," Carlisle recalled. "He took a lot of notes, a lot of mental notes, and he may have written some things down. "I do know that after he sustained the injury, it was either in February or early March, you can order these calendars that start on a specific day and then they count days. "So there was a calendar sitting in our training room and every day he would come in and take one off, take one off. He was counting the days down to being cleared sometime in August and then be able to begin training camp, begin five-on-five with our guys in September and then be in training camp, really, with his eyes firmly set on an opportunity in the playoffs. "So he's putting a lot of work to be ready for these moments, and tonight he was an absolute major factor." Mathurin said he was "fortunate to learn a lot" in what was an unfortunate situation last year but he admitted that it wasn't easy. Playing in the Finals, in front of the intense fans in Indianapolis, "is a dream" but one he doesn't want to get caught up in. "I'm not trying to live in my dream," he said. "I'm trying to live in the present and make sure the dream ends well, which means winning next game and winning a championship." © 2025 AFP
