Ramona Shelburne: James Harden told me players want Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to win MVP

Ramona Shelburne: I talked to James Harden for a little bit this morning before the Clippers left for Denver and I said “Who’s the best player?” and he said, “Well, no question, Jokic is the best player.” But even he said all the players we want to see Shai winning MVP because of the season he had and the winning, and I think that really factors in for them more than maybe some people on the outside who are just looking at stat, stats, stats, stats… but he said, of course, Jokic is the best player.Source: YouTube

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
James Harden eat your heart out – 8:46 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Don’t love that soft switch to put Murray on Harden – 8:43 PM

Jonathan Wasserman @NBADraftWass
Watching today’s best—Jokic, Steph, Shai, Harden, Brunson, literally almost everyone—athleticism is just a bonus advantage-creator. Ball skill, shotmaking, footwork, feel/IQ over everything. – 8:42 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
After two missed jumpers by Derrick Jones Jr., Clippers go all offense: Harden/Powell/Bogdanovic/Leonard/Zubac
Dunn, Jones Jr., Batum have missed 16 of 20 shots today, including 11 of 13 3s – 8:21 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
The Clippers chance is to play with the kind of effort and pace that will cook the Nuggets’ legs. Harden gets an and-one, and Nuggets sense what’s happening and get a timeout in with 9:15 left to play
87-71 Nuggets lead, pending FT. Clippers need to play perfect but there’s time – 8:15 PM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Imagine telling one of the “just surround Simmons with shooters!” people from 2019/2020 or so that he would get run off of the floor with Kawhi, Harden, Norm Powell, and Batum around him in a playoff game – 8:04 PM

Ramona Shelburne @ramonashelburne
Saturday night Raw here at Intuit Dome. Techs given to Harden, Powell, Dunn, Jokic, Gordon, and Braun. All offsetting! No one thrown out and we play on! – 7:20 PM

Austin Krell @NBAKrell
Aaron Gordon taken aback by James Harden responding when Gordon shoved him. pic.x.com/1IJAOpAqfj – 7:18 PM

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gpf1-ddW8AACC7C.jpg

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Zach Zarba announces:
– tech on Harden
– tech on Powell
– tech on Dunn
– tech on Jokic
– tech on Gordon
– tech on Braun
No closed fists
Personal foul on Braun
No free throws lol
PLAY ON!!!! – 7:18 PM

Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
In the aggregate I think the Nuggets did more here, but Harden getting into Braun like that was completely unnecessary. It was obvious for 10 seconds that the Nuggets were taking a foul there. Harden knew it too. He did that because he looked at Braun as an easy dude to try – 7:17 PM

Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Soooo…..
Christian Braun took a foul on Harden
Harden took exception to the foul Braun took on him
Jokic came in and pushed Harden
AG came in and pushed Harden
Harden kinda swung on AG
AG tried to end Harden
This is naked eye. Do I have that right? – 7:13 PM

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
James harden deserves to fail – 7:13 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Yeah, James Harden might get ejected – 7:13 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
That Harden lob to Zubac somehow eluded FOUR nuggets who had a chance at it. Incredible pass under pressure. – 7:11 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander “I just tried to be aggressive. The last 3 games I feel like I was still getting to my spots the ball just wasn’t going through the hoop. Tonight the ball was going through the hoop” when asked about his mindset of a close out game and cutting down his 3s – 7:03 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander talked about how in the past he would’ve shied away because of the way the his shooting was headed but he was impressed that he kept being aggressive despite some inefficiency in this series. – 7:02 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has back to back 30 point games.
SGA has attacked the paint relentlessly today against JJJ and Edey. – 5:26 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander splitting Edey and JJJ to finish through contact is just special. – 5:23 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA hesi’d past Pippen Jr and finished at the rim against both JJJ and 7’4 Zach Edey.
SGA has been outstanding today. – 5:05 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is up to 24 points after this and-1 on 8-for-11 shooting. – 5:03 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
The Nuggets led 26-19 with 3:15 left in 1st quarter Game 3
Not only did the Clippers end up out outscoring the Nuggets in each quarter, they had a different leading scorer in each quarter
1st: Harden
2nd: Zubac
3rd: Powell
4th: Leonard
Asked David Adelman about the “avalanche” pic.x.com/0LFzaiyBpm – 4:56 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the half
19 PTS
7-8 FG
5 AST
1 STL
0 TO
Jalen Williams at the half
13 PTS
6-11 FG
2 AST
0 TO – 4:42 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Successful challenge from Mark Dagneault.
Bane clearly fouls SGA on the 3 point shot.
SGA gets 3 free throws… and maintains his perfect first half field goal percentage. – 4:39 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
After review, Bane is hit with a foul and a successful challenge for Mark Daigneault to send Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the line for 3 FTAs. – 4:38 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 1st quarter
16 PTS
7-7 FG
3 AST
1 STL
Turns out the league scoring leader and MVP didn’t forget how to score. – 4:04 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
16 first-quarter points for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on 7-for-7 shooting. – 4:04 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s start today:
8 PTS
4-4 FG
2 AST
SGA has scored or assisted on 13 of OKC’s first 17 points. – 3:44 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
This is the right lineup for Aaron Wiggins, surrounded by size and can really benefit from it defensively. SGA and Jalen Williams are cooking, timeout Memphis. – 3:43 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Assist for Zach Edey, blocking a shot into Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s hands for a bucket. SGA is up to 8 points of OKC’s 12. – 3:40 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Thunder starters vs Grizzlies
SGA
Dort
JDub
Chet
Hartenstein
Round 1. Game 4. – 3:05 PM

More on this storyline

Justin Russo: Here you go: the entire incident between James Harden, Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon, Ivica Zubac, and, well, everyone. -via Twitter / April 26, 2025

Law Murray: Zach Zarba announces: – tech on James Harden – tech on Norman Powell – tech on Kris Dunn – tech on Nikola Jokic – tech on Aaron Gordon – tech on Christian Braun. No closed fists. Personal foul on Braun. No free throws lol PLAY ON!!!! -via Bluesky / April 26, 2025

Anthony Slater: Here’s Steve Kerr on the officiating/physicality of the playoffs. Asked about Houston’s defense on Steph Curry: “You don’t think you’re just gonna bait me. Are you James Harden trying to draw a foul? I’m not reaching.” -via Twitter @anthonyVslater / April 26, 2025

“I’m impressed with my level to stay with it,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “In the past, I for sure would have turned down the aggressiveness a little bit. I made a jump as far as that this year. That’s something that I’m definitely proud of. I try not to focus on the results and just focus on my mental development, and I think I’ve taken a step forward in that. I had a night like (Saturday) because of it. In the past, I definitely would have shied away from the moment because of where my shooting was headed.” -via New York Times / April 27, 2025

Rylan Stiles: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the sweep and time out “I’m not sure. Honestly it can go both ways, it can add a little rust but it can add a little freshness as well… We always say the days in-between games in the playoffs are the ones you gotta win” -via Twitter @Rylan_Stiles / April 26, 2025

Josh Lorenzi: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on his series: “I’m impressed with my (ability) to stay with it. In the past, I for sure would’ve turned down the aggressiveness a little bit. I made a jump as far as that this year. That’s something I’m definitely proud of. In the past, I would’ve shied away from the moment because of where my shooting was headed.” -via Twitter / April 26, 2025

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