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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on 'Crazy' Matchup Against Cousin Nickeil in NBA Playoffs: ‘Stuff We’ve Dreamt About for Our Whole Lives’

For Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, playing in the Western Conference Finals is about more than being one step away from the NBA Finals. It’s a family affair, too.

The Oklahoma City Thunder star, 26, has spent almost half of the penultimate series going up against his first cousin, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

“He got the better of me sometimes, I got the better of him,” Gilgeous-Alexander told The Oklahoman after Monday night’s Game 4, in which the Thunder won, 128-126. “Stuff we’ve dreamt about for our whole lives, and it’s crazy that it’s come to fruition.