OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander broke Wilt Chamberlain’s streak of 20-plus points on Thursday night, extending his streak to 127 points.
The Oklahoma City Thunder guard hit two free throws in the third quarter to score 19 points against the Boston Celtics. With the crowd on its feet, Gilgeous-Alexander pumped out multiple fakes and hit a jumper from the free throw line over Baylor Sherman with 7:04 left to increase his total to 21 points.
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Chamberlain’s record stood until 1963, and early on, Gilgeous-Alexander seemed unlikely to break it. He didn’t score until halfway through the first quarter, but he had 10 points by the end of the quarter and 17 by halftime.
Gilgeous-Alexander won his first MVP award last season, and his solid performance with the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder could lead to him winning it again. He won the scoring title last season and ranks second this year. Oklahoma City has the best record in the league.
Coach Mark Daigneault praised Gilgeous-Alexander’s focus.
“That’s what’s so impressive about him,” Dainio said before the game. “Human nature is that when you have success you lighten up a little bit, and he was the opposite. He tasted it, he wanted more, he wanted to come back for a few more seconds.”
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From 1961 to 1963, Chamberlain scored at least 20 points in 126 consecutive games. He scored more than 20 points in every game with the Philadelphia Warriors during the 1961-62 season, including his record-setting 100-point game in 1962. On January 20, 1963, Chamberlain was ejected from the San Francisco Warriors’ game against the St. Louis Hawks after playing just four minutes.
Gilgeous-Alexander tied the record with 35 points against the Denver Nuggets on Monday. He also contributed a career-high 15 assists and nine rebounds, and hit the decisive three-pointer in the final seconds.
“He leaves his job behind and does it consistently,” Dainio said. “He’s a perfectionist when it comes to his craft. He’s incredibly demanding of himself, but his compassion for his teammates is incredible.”
Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 50 points in five games this season, including a career-high 55 points in his second game of the season against the Indiana Pacers. The last time he was under 20 was when he scored 18 points against the Spurs on October 30, 2024.
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Gilgeous-Alexander passed Chamberlain’s second-best mark of 92 games earlier this season. The Thunder entered the night with a 102-24 record during Gilgeous-Alexander’s winning streak.
It’s been a week of scoring feats in the NBA. Miami’s Bam Adebayo scored 83 points on Tuesday, second only to Chamberlain’s 100 points.
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