A female Spurs fan sparked fresh playoff chatter by pulling out an “Oscar Trophy” prop aimed at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, hitting it every time he went to the floor as Oklahoma City struggled early against San Antonio. Despite Gilgeous-Alexander insisting he’s
By the time the chants started warming up, the message was already clear.
During the NBA Playoffs game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs. one Spurs fan took aim at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with a prop straight out of show business. Every time the reigning Most Valuable Player hit the deck. she raised an Oscar Trophy—brought out repeatedly as the game went on. It wasn’t subtle. either: she also used the same prop in a way that lined up with the growing criticism that Gilgeous-Alexander is “flopping.”.
The playful heckling became part of the soundtrack before tip-off. Spurs fans began trolling Gilgeous-Alexander pregame while he was warming up, then turned it into a full chant—“flopper” directed at the Thunder star.
Gilgeous-Alexander has said he’s unbothered by the chants. On the court, though, Oklahoma City’s early night never got off the ground. The Thunder endured a “horror fest” to start against San Antonio, including an epic Victor Wembanyama half-court buzzer beater that set the tone almost immediately.
Oklahoma City watched an 8-7 lead slip away and transform into San Antonio’s 12-0 run. The damage only widened from there. With about four minutes left in the third quarter, the Spurs’ lead ballooned to 72-47.
Gilgeous-Alexander tried to keep his team afloat during that stretch. scoring 16 points in the time frame. and reaching that same 16-point mark in 27 minutes before the fourth quarter arrived. Isaiah Hartenstein scored the first eight baskets for OKC, then cooled and finished the third with 12 near the 3:50 mark. Before the fourth quarter began, Hartenstein and Gilgeous-Alexander were the only Thunder players to reach double figures.
San Antonio, meanwhile, leaned on the kind of impact that changes games quickly. Wembanyama reverted to the dominance that has defined so much of his season, scoring 27 points through 24 minutes of floor time. Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell each scored 13 points through three periods.
With the Spurs playing like a team that had answers for everything Oklahoma City tried early, the series appears to be heading back to the Paycom Center tied at 2-2—matching the way San Antonio controlled the pace and the score.
Spurs Thunder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Oscar Trophy prop flopper chant Victor Wembanyama NBA Playoffs Isaiah Hartenstein Stephon Castle Devin Vassell Paycom Center