Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made NBA historical past on Thursday, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s document for consecutive video games with at the least 20 factors because the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder secured a 104-102 victory towards the Boston Celtics. The reigning NBA MVP has now scored at the least 20 in 127 straight video games. He completed with 35 factors on 13-of-18 capturing, six rebounds, and 9 assists as Oklahoma Metropolis gained its seventh straight sport.
Chet Holmgren drew a foul on a rebound with 0.9 seconds remaining and made each free throws to interrupt a 102-102 tie. Payton Pritchard’s heave on the buzzer was missed.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Chasing Historical past
Gilgeous-Alexander went scoreless early within the first quarter earlier than discovering a rhythm, ending with 10 factors to finish the interval and 17 going into halftime. Boston tried to blitz him to gradual him down, however he had an answer whatever the protection.
When the record-breaking second arrived within the third, he went with the shot most synonymous along with his sport — a pull-up jumper from mid-range. He credited the gamers who first impressed that a part of his arsenal.
“Actually, I shoot and fall in love with him due to guys like Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Allen Iverson,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “If something, they modified the sport, and the way it’s performed. These are simply my favourite gamers and who I attempt to mannequin my sport after.”
Chamberlain’s document was set over a 126-game run between 1961 and 1963, which included his iconic 100-point sport. It ended not due to a poor capturing evening, however as a result of Chamberlain was ejected simply 4 minutes right into a January 1963 sport towards the St. Louis Hawks after selecting up two technical fouls.
Gilgeous-Alexander tied Chamberlain’s streak on Monday towards Denver with 35 factors, whereas recording a career-high 15 assists and including 9 rebounds together with the go-ahead 3-pointer to win the sport.
Closing Out the Win
With historical past already made, Gilgeous-Alexander had a sport to win. He made back-to-back pull-up jumpers within the remaining 64 seconds: the primary broke a 98-98 tie, and the second put Oklahoma Metropolis up 102-100 after Jaylen Brown knotted it on the free-throw line with 50.8 seconds left.
Brown made a turnaround jumper with 23 seconds remaining to arrange the ultimate sequence. Fairly than search for his personal shot, Gilgeous-Alexander made the unselfish play by discovering Caruso within the nook. The three-point try missed, however Holmgren cleaned up the miss on the glass to seal it.
“Actually, I simply belief him wholeheartedly. The man makes big-time performs. He is helped me win a championship and obtain my dream,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “They had been going to return off him. I noticed them level to the man throughout the courtroom to return off him, so I kinda knew the place the ball was going to go. I simply need to give him one other alternative to make a play.”
Brown led Boston with 34 factors. Jayson Tatum was sidelined as he continues to ramp up from Achilles surgical procedure, having performed three video games since his return.
The Village Behind It
Oklahoma Metropolis has posted a 102-24 document in Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak, which started on Nov. 1, 2024. Throughout this span, no group has produced a greater document than the Thunder. It is no shock that he stays the frontrunner to assert a second consecutive MVP award.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated what separates Gilgeous-Alexander is how he handles success with out letting it breed complacency.
“Human nature is that you’ve success, you ease slightly bit, and he is the other,” Daigneault stated. “He tastes it, he desires extra, he desires to return again for seconds. He is a perfectionist relating to his craft. He is received an unbelievably excessive bar for himself, and but, he is extremely empathic along with his teammates.”
Regardless of the glory of creating historical past, Gilgeous-Alexander has remained targeted on successful video games as the highest precedence.
“We have gained all through the streak, most significantly. I’ve simply had a lot enjoyable enjoying basketball over the past yr and a half,” he stated. “Whenever you keep in the appropriate mindframe, whenever you keep collectively, whenever you’re related as a unit and simply have enjoyable all through the entire course of, you get the most effective out of issues. That is what the group is.”
He credited the folks closest to him for his success.
“I’ve had numerous luck with nice folks in my nook. Individuals who helped me develop my abilities, develop with my physique, develop and perceive the sport, develop off the courtroom,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “Household, buddies, my spouse, my son. It takes a village to perform nice issues.”
Oklahoma Metropolis returns to motion on Sunday towards Minnesota at Paycom Heart.
