The Oklahoma City Thunder will face the Houston Rockets on Saturday night in the NBA Cup semifinals, a clash between the Western Conference’s top two teams. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been the engine for the Thunder all season, and he’ll be tasked with leading his team to victory in Las Vegas.
Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off a stellar performance in Tuesday’s quarterfinal win over the Dallas Mavericks, where he scored 39 points and added eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. The Thunder superstar has been one of the NBA’s top players this season, averaging 30.2 points and 6.3 assists per game.
Here’s a closer look at a key Gilgeous-Alexander prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook to consider for Saturday’s matchup.
Best Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 36.5 Points + Assists (-115)
Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to control the game as both a scorer and facilitator makes this line of 36.5 points and assists an appealing option. He has already faced the Rockets twice this season, averaging 30.5 points and 4.5 assists in those games. Additionally, he’s eclipsed this combined total in many games this season, including his 39-point, five-assist effort in Tuesday’s victory against Dallas.
Houston boasts one of the league’s top defenses under coach Ime Udoka, but the Thunder’s star guard thrives in high-stakes moments. Oklahoma City has relied on Gilgeous-Alexander to carry the offensive load in the absence of Chet Holmgren, and the results have been remarkable. The Thunder have gone 11-3 without Holmgren.
Gilgeous-Alexander is motivated to lead the Thunder to an NBA Cup title, comparing the setting to playing AAU or college tournaments at the Maui Invitational.
“It would mean a lot. It’s an opportunity to win and play the game at a high level,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “As a kid, you tie your shoes and play AAU ball to win tournaments on the weekend. You go to college to try to win the NCAA Tournament or the preseason tournaments like the Maui Invitational. You’re always trying to win. That’s my mindset, and it’s my teammates’ mindset too. We’re always striving to win, and this is a chance to do something we love every day — play basketball.”
The Rockets have the personnel to challenge Oklahoma City, including Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun, who have led Houston to a surprising 17-8 record. However, Gilgeous-Alexander’s combination of scoring and playmaking gives him an edge in this matchup.
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