The Thunder defeated the Pistons, and DeGnort was amazed by Gilgeous-Alexander's ability to regain his rhythm.
2026-04-01 07:48
With points from Gilgeous-Alexander, Ajay Mitchell, and Chet Holmgren, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Detroit Pistons 114-110 in another game of the 2025/26 NBA regular season. Head coach DeGnott expressed his amazement at Gilgeous-Alexander's ability to regain his rhythm in adversity.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 47 points and had 3 assists for the Oklahoma City Thunder in this game, Ajay Mitchell added 14 points and 3 assists, and Chet Holmgren contributed 13 points and 1 assist.
Oklahoma City Thunder head coach DeGnott said in an interview, "Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been playing like this all season, it's even become a habit. I'm really amazed by his ability to regain his rhythm in the blink of an eye when he's struggling in a game."
“This game forced us to respond in this way, but the players did it, and we never gave up. Although it wasn’t an easy game, and not all victories are won beautifully, we must learn to win in different ways, including in slightly chaotic games like this.”
DeGnott pointed out, "Chett Holmgren also performed exceptionally well and is a very influential player. Losing him was a big blow to us before, but his combination with Jaelin Williams stabilized our rebounding performance very well. They combined for 15 rebounds, which diminished the Detroit Pistons' advantage in that area."
"Aaron Wiggins also played very well. We gave him opportunities, and he capitalized on them. He hit key shots in the second half and was outstanding overall."
In addition, DeGnott said, "Playing in high-intensity competition is definitely a key ability in the playoffs. Against teams that know you very well, their defensive rotations will be faster, and everyone will be fighting for loose balls. This is pressure that the team must withstand. There are no excuses; we must unite and strive to win every possession."
“The players have been focused on the next round and understood the situation at crucial stages of the game. We are growing as a whole, and our ability to handle these key situations has improved significantly, making us more likely to take the lead.”
Image source: Internet
