OKLAHOMA CITY — In a thrilling display of talent, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s crucial rebound and score in the fourth quarter pushed him to an impressive milestone, topping the 50-point mark, much to the delight of the Oklahoma City fans. The atmosphere was electric, but Gilgeous-Alexander remained composed as he made his way back down the court, treating the feat as just another moment in his basketball journey.
This kind of extraordinary performance is becoming almost customary for the Thunder’s star player. His 51-point achievement marked the fourth time in 19 games that Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 50 points or more. Reflecting on his accomplishments, he expressed a zen-like focus on the game itself rather than the numbers. “It’s like you get lost in the process of just competing and playing the game you love,” he stated. “And wherever that comes to, it comes to.”
The primary concern for Gilgeous-Alexander was securing the victory, which culminated in a 137-128 win against the Houston Rockets on Monday night. He joined an elite club, becoming the 12th player in NBA history to register at least four 50-point games in a single season. His scoring prowess has been instrumental in driving the Thunder’s success, leading them to a dominant 50-11 record, the best in the Western Conference. Remarkably, Oklahoma City has excelled in games where he scores 50 or more points, holding a 3-1 record.
Gilgeous-Alexander stressed the importance of winning over personal achievements, stating, “Whether it’s 50, whether it’s 27, whether it’s 17 — as long as we win, I have fun with it. It’s a fun night.” Despite taking 397 career games to surpass the 50-point mark for the first time, he has rapidly become adept at reaching these heights. His first opened the floodgates in late January with a career-high 54 points against Utah. He followed that with 52 points in a contest against Golden State and another 50 in a win over Phoenix in early February.
Facing the Rockets, it quickly became evident that Gilgeous-Alexander was having another exceptional game. He poured in 20 points in the initial quarter alone, taking charge when the Thunder stumbled a bit during their start. Despite his efforts, Oklahoma City closed the first quarter trailing Houston 31-30. “I tried to be a little bit more aggressive once we kind of got out to that (slow) start there, like kind of lift us a little bit,” he reflected. “I tried to be aggressive, be assertive.”
By halftime, he already tallied 28 points, and by the start of the fourth quarter, he was at 45. In the final period, his additional six points were critical for ensuring his team’s ultimate triumph. “I just think you play the game to win,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, emphasizing the essence of team success over individual accolades. “You don’t play the game to score a bunch of points, to get a bunch of rebounds or assists or steals. … You don’t play for anything besides to win, and that’s what it’s all about.”
