Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added another accolade to his resume last night, tying Wilt Chamberlain’s 126-game streak of 20+ points in the Thunder’s 129-126 victory over the Denver Nuggets. The reigning MVP finished with 35 points, including a pair of late triples to seal the win for the home team.
A Historic Streak That Highlights His Scoring Dominance
A record that was once thought unbreakable, Gilgeous-Alexander is now one game away from snapping Chamberlain’s 63-year-old record of 20+ point games.
While his 32.5 PPG in the streak pales in comparison to Chamberlain’s 49 PPG during his streak, stringing together 20+ points in every game since November 2024 is just as impressive. Scoring is much more balanced in the modern era, and it’s important to note that Chamberlain often played all 48 minutes on a nightly basis during his legendary streak.
Gilgeous-Alexander has been leading the league in PPG among qualified players for the last three seasons, as his consistent scoring has fueled his excellent average. During the record-tying 126-game point streak, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25+ points 108 times, or 85.7% of the streak. He also cleared 30+ points in 58.7% of the streak, as he has been approaching 40 points more often than narrowly clearing the 20-point threshold.
SGA and Jokic Trade Blows in a Duel Between MVP Favorites
In last night’s contest, Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic put on a show. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points, 9 rebounds, and 15 assists for the Thunder, while Jokic finished with 32 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists. The two MVP favorites facing off lived up to expectations, as it was a back-and-forth contest right down to the wire.
Denver was able to dominate the glass with a +19 rebounding advantage, but the Thunder offset those extra possessions by turning the ball over just three times. Both teams were very efficient on offense with 1.23 and 1.26 points per possession, respectively, but it was Gilgeous-Alexander’s clutch fourth-quarter heroics that sealed the win for Oklahoma City.
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Late-Game Chaos Ends with Gilgeous-Alexander’s Winner
Gilgeous-Alexander drained what looked to be a dagger three with 13.9 seconds to go, stretching the Thunder’s lead to 126-122. Jokic responded with a triple of his own with 8.5 seconds to go, then Jaylin Williams was called for an off-ball foul to give Jamal Murray a free throw to tie the game.
The four-point play wasn’t enough for the Nuggets to force overtime, as Gilgeous-Alexander’s three-pointer with three seconds to go gave the Thunder the win after Aaron Gordon missed a last-second heave.
Doubts were rumbling around the league about whether or not the Thunder were still the top team in the West, as Denver and San Antonio both looked to close the gap in the standings. OKC was no longer winning at the same rate, but the return of their MVP has been the difference.
Additionally, their bench won the game for them last night against Denver. The Thunder reserves combined for a +54 point differential, while the Nuggets reserves combined for a -43 point differential. Jokic has proven time and time again that he can carry the Nuggets, but he can’t play all 48 minutes as Chamberlain did during his dominant run in the 1960s.
Last night, the two MVP favorites cancelled each other out, while the Thunder bench did enough to stretch their lead at the top of the West.
A Record-Tying Night with More History Still to Chase
Not only did Gilgeous-Alexander equal Chamberlain’s streak, but he did so in legendary fashion. All 35 of his points were needed to edge the reigning champions over the Nuggets, giving them a perfect 6-0 record since Gilgeous-Alexander returned from his abdominal injury.
He was the heart and soul in the playmaking department, too, as Gilgeous-Alexander’s 15 assists were created after every possession started in his hands. His frequency at the free-throw stripe has drawn criticism in the past, but the reality is that fouling Gilgeous-Alexander is the only way to slow him down.
His 14-for-21 clip from the floor, with only four free-throw attempts, is a very respectable box score, and there is no reason the soon-to-be two-time NBA MVP should be getting criticized for how he scores points. If everyone could do it, Gilgeous-Alexander wouldn’t be one game away from breaking a seemingly unbreakable point streak.
Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will have the chance to rewrite the history books when they host the Celtics on Thursday night, giving them three days of rest to take on a dangerous Boston side.
The Nuggets get back on the court tomorrow night against the Rockets for what will be a pivotal game for Western Conference seeding.
