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[Saba Sports News] At least one member of the Minnesota Timberwolves seems to believe that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander receives some favorable treatment from officials.
Speaking the day after Minnesota’s 114-88 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, forward Jaden McDaniels addressed the challenge of guarding Gilgeous-Alexander — and the officiating that comes with it.
“We expected it. Myself knowing coming in, he gets calls,” McDaniels said on Wednesday. “Not everything is going to go our way. Nothing we can do about it. Just got to keep playing.”
McDaniels acknowledged the Timberwolves will need to adjust their physicality, noting that they’ll “have to switch our gameplan based on how the refs are calling the game.”
The comments didn’t come off as bitter, but rather as a realistic acknowledgment of the situation. Gilgeous-Alexander has often drawn criticism for his frequent trips to the line, and his knack for generating contact appeared to frustrate the Timberwolves — especially in Game 1.
SGA finished with 31 points, 11 of which came from free throws. McDaniels, who was tasked with defending him for much of the game, fouled out with just over five minutes remaining. Five of his six fouls were drawn by Gilgeous-Alexander.
With Game 2 on the horizon, Minnesota will need to adjust quickly — and find a better answer for slowing down the Thunder’s MVP frontrunner.