OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 51 factors and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Houston Rockets 137-128 on Monday night time for his or her fiftieth win of the season.
Gilgeous-Alexander reached 50 factors for the fourth time this season, all up to now seven weeks. No different participant within the NBA has a couple of, based on ESPN Analysis. The NBA’s scoring chief completed with no less than 40 for the ninth time in 2024-25. He made 18 of 30 area targets, went 5-of-9 on 3-pointers and hit all 10 of his free throws.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who reached 50 factors on a putback with slightly below three minutes left to offer Oklahoma Metropolis a 132-120 benefit, had by no means scored 50 in a recreation in his profession earlier than this stretch. It is the shortest span for a participant to report his first 4 profession 50-point video games in NBA historical past, based on ESPN Analysis.
“It turns into — you possibly can say it isn’t as thrilling as the primary one, nevertheless it’s extra like getting misplaced within the strategy of simply competing and taking part in the sport you’re keen on,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “After which wherever that takes you, it takes you.”
Gilgeous-Alexander logged his seventeenth profession recreation with 20 factors within the paint and 10 made free throws, probably the most by any guard since 1997-98 — and a mark that surpassed LeBron James for the seventh most by any participant over that span.
His scoring binges have helped Oklahoma Metropolis roll to a Western Convention-leading 50-11 report. The Thunder are 3-1 when he scores no less than 50 factors.
“Whether or not it is 50, whether or not it is 27, whether or not it is 17 — so long as we win, I’ve enjoyable with it,” he stated. “It is a enjoyable night time.”
Gilgeous-Alexander performed 397 profession video games earlier than reaching the 50-point mark. His first time hitting the milestone was a career-high 54-point outburst in a win over Utah on Jan. 22. He then scored 52 on Jan. 29 in a loss to Golden State and 50 in a house win over Phoenix on Feb. 5.
“I simply suppose he is obtained an unbelievable tempo to him proper now,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated. “The place he is discovering his stuff, he is attacking and actually hitting the fuel on some performs, after which there’s different performs the place he is simply letting the protection inform him what to do and shifting it to his teammates and it is permitting for the remainder of the group to play very well similtaneously him. So, he deserves loads of credit score.”
From the outset towards the Rockets, it appeared this is likely to be a particular night time when Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 factors within the first quarter. He stated he took over as a result of the group obtained off to a tough begin. Even together with his scoring spree, Houston led 31-30 on the finish of the interval.
“I attempted to be somewhat bit extra aggressive as soon as we form of obtained out to that [slow] begin there, like form of carry us somewhat bit,” he stated. “I attempted to be aggressive, be assertive.”
He had 28 factors by halftime and 45 going into the fourth quarter. His six factors within the ultimate interval had been very important in serving to the Thunder grasp on and change into the quickest in franchise historical past to achieve the 50-win mark (61 video games). The Thunder/SuperSonics franchise’s earlier quickest mark was 64 video games within the 1995-96 season.
“I simply suppose you play the sport to win,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “Like, you do not play the sport to attain a bunch of factors. You do not play the sport to get a bunch of rebounds or assists or steals. … You do not play for something in addition to to win, and that is what it is all about.”
Data from The Related Press was used on this report.
