Two nights earlier, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander snipped the reporter’s tongue mid-question, his ambition leaping over the podium.
He’d been asked about the Boston Celtics , the defending NBA Champions so clearly still in shape. Gilgeous-Alexander, comparatively with fewer battle scars and high-leverage games under his belt than the ones that forged the Celtics’ roster, couldn’t wait to answer. Or play.
“I like to compete at the root of it all,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after a 105-92 Thunder win Sunday at Paycom Center , advancing to 30-5 with its 15th straight win. “I like to play against the best and see where I stand, how good I really am, and that’s all it comes down to. ……