Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was pleased with the mental fortitude from the team as they levelled the playoff series with the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. (More Sports News)
The Thunder were down eight points early in the fourth quarter before going on an 11-0 run and ultimately winning 92-87.
"We fought," said Gilgeous-Alexander, as quoted by ESPN. "We stayed the course ... and then we closed the game."
"Every time you take punches and you get back up, you get stronger. That's what we're preaching to our team. We lost a tough one the other night in overtime. We stood back up today.
"It felt good," he continued, as quoted by Yahoo Sports. "It always feels good to win. It sucks to lose. Like I said last game, I'm always willing to take the good and the bad. And last game I took the bad. Tonight, I took the good."
The game came little over 36 hours after the Nuggets had gone 2-1 up in the series, with a 113-104 victory.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was pleased with바카라 웹사이트Gilgeous-Alexander's ability to bounce back after a poor performance in the previous defeat.
"I always marvel at his ability to get himself back to zero," he said. "Usually he's getting himself back to zero off of a great game. That's his secret sauce. He stays so level and humble despite his success.
"But when he does fail, he doesn't point fingers, he doesn't pout. He's not emotional, he's not angry. He's just so level that he gets himself right back into play. He's the last guy you worry about bouncing back."
The Thunder registered a combined 56 minutes from five different bench players during the game, who earned a collective total of 36 points, 17 rebounds and six assists.
Aaron Wiggins (11), Cason Wallace (11) and Alex Caruso (10) each scored double figures and Daigneault acknowledged that the quick turnaround meant it was necessary to use their depth.
"Quick turnaround with an early game today," he said. "We made an intentional effort to use our depth today and get everybody going."
Nuggets interim coach David Adelman, meanwhile, agreed with his opposite number, suggesting that the performances from the bench won the Thunder the game.
"I really thought the difference in the game was their bench kind of lit a fuse for them," he said. "They made threes ... pretty incredible in a game where the two teams shoot 21-of-86 from 3."
