Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as an NBA MVP candidate by guiding the Oklahoma City Thunder to the top of the Western Conference standings despite an injury to center Chet Holmgren. (Nate Billings/AP)
There was nothing left for Klay Thompson to do but punch the air.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, fearless and elusive and eerily calm, is a maddening player to cover. Thompson had stayed with him on a drive through the paint and raised his hands to challenge a shot when he pump-faked near the baseline. When Gilgeous-Alexander spun back to the middle of the court, the veteran Dallas Mavericks forward was waiting to contest again. And when Gilgeous-Alexander spun back to the baseline, Thompson recovered to swipe at the ball and get a hand up. None of it mattered: Gilgeous-Alexander faded away and swished a jumper as a helpless Thompson stewed.