Shai Gilgeous-Alexander broke Wilt Chamberlain's long-standing record for consecutive games with at least 20 points on Thursday night, scoring 35 points to extend his streak to 127 games. The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Boston Celtics in a tight game that ended with a score of 104-102, according to multiple reports.
Key Takeaways
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander broke Wilt Chamberlain's long-standing record for consecutive games with at least 20 points by scoring 35 points in a 104-102 win over the Boston Celtics. The Thunder won their seventh straight game, all since Gilgeous-Alexander returned from injury.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander extended his streak to 127 games with at least 20 points.
- He scored 35 points and had nine assists in the win over the Celtics.
- The Thunder won their seventh straight game, all since Gilgeous-Alexander returned from an abdominal strain.
- Jaylen Brown scored 34 points for the Celtics, while Jayson Tatum sat out due to injury.
The record had stood since 1963, and early on, it looked like Gilgeous-Alexander might struggle to break it. He didn't score until halfway through the first quarter but finished with 35 points and nine assists. The Thunder won their seventh straight game—all since Gilgeous-Alexander returned from an abdominal strain that kept him out of the All-Star Game.
The matchup between the defending champion Thunder, who have the league’s best record, and the 2024 champion Celtics, second in the Eastern Conference, was tight throughout. Jaylen Brown scored 34 points for the Celtics, while Jayson Tatum sat out as he works his way back from surgery to repair his right Achilles tendon.
Gilgeous-Alexander hit a midrange jumper with 7:04 left in the third quarter that gave him 21 points and tied the game at 69-all. He finished with nine assists and six rebounds, making 13 of 18 field goals.
The Thunder's Chet Holmgren was fouled on a rebound with 0.9 seconds remaining and made two free throws to break a 102-all tie. Boston’s Payton Pritchard missed a long 3-pointer as time expired, sealing the win for Oklahoma City.
Chamberlain scored at least 20 in 126 straight games from 1961-63. He had 20 or more in every game of the 1961-62 season for the Philadelphia Warriors, which included his record 100-point game in 1962. Chamberlain’s streak ended on Jan. 20, 1963, when he was ejected after just four minutes for the San Francisco Warriors against the St. Louis Hawks.
Gilgeous-Alexander tied the record Monday, when he scored 35 points against the Denver Nuggets. He also had a career-high 15 assists and nine rebounds and hit the decisive 3-pointer in the closing seconds.
The Thunder entered Thursday night's game with a 102-24 record during Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak. Coach Mark Daigneault credited Gilgeous-Alexander for his steady focus, noting that he is a perfectionist when it comes to his craft.
Gilgeous-Alexander hit a pullup jumper with just over a minute remaining to break a 98-all tie. Jaylen Brown made two free throws to tie the game with 50.8 seconds left. Gilgeous-Alexander again went to his free-throw line jumper and connected with 29.6 seconds remaining to put Oklahoma City ahead 102-100.
Brown scored on a turnaround with 23 seconds left to set up the final sequence. Gilgeous-Alexander passed to an open Alex Caruso, who missed a 3-pointer, but Holmgren grabbed the rebound and was fouled.
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