DETROIT — John Henson collected a pass under the rim and was a jump away from an easy slam. What Henson didn’t know was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had sneaked in from behind. And as Henson rose for the dunk, Gilgeous-Alexander timed a right-handed swat.
Oklahoma City’s 6-foot-6 guard easily denied Detroit’s 6-foot-9 center. It was one of two blocks Gilgeous-Alexander recorded Wednesday in the Thunder’s 114-107 win against the Pistons.
Gilgeous-Alexander has developed into a sly shot blocker in his sophomore season. Among all guards, Gilgeous-Alexander ranks fourth in the NBA with 45 blocks.
Houston’s James Harden (52), Boston’s Jayson Tatum (52) and San Antonio’s Derrick White (48) are the only guards ahead of him in the block department.