Thunder Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Denied Game-Winner

Stepback three waved off due to late foul call against OKC guard

Apr. 1, 2026 at 6:25pm

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Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit a clutch stepback three at the end of Monday night's game against the Detroit Pistons, but the shot was waved off after officials called a late push-off foul on the All-Star guard. Despite the disappointing finish, Gilgeous-Alexander remained upbeat, saying he lets his game do the talking.

Why it matters

Gilgeous-Alexander is having an MVP-caliber season for the Thunder, leading the team in scoring and helping them exceed preseason expectations. The late-game foul call denied him another chance to deliver a signature moment and potentially lift OKC to victory.

The details

With the game tied in the final seconds, Gilgeous-Alexander dribbled the clock down and hit a stepback three over a Pistons defender that would have won the game. However, officials ruled that he had pushed off slightly before the shot, negating the basket and handing possession back to Detroit.

  • The game-winning shot attempt occurred in the final seconds of Monday night's Thunder-Pistons matchup.

The players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The 24-year-old All-Star guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who is having a breakout season and is in the MVP conversation.

Detroit Pistons

The opposing team that faced the Thunder on Monday night.

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What they’re saying

“Thanks for asking, though. But yeah, I'm good. I let my game do the talking.”

— Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder Guard

What’s next

The Thunder will look to bounce back from the tough loss when they host the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.

The takeaway

Despite the disappointing finish, Gilgeous-Alexander's resilience and focus on letting his play do the talking underscores why he has emerged as one of the NBA's most exciting young stars this season.