On a night when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a chance to put his name alongside Wilt Chamberlain in the record books, he wound up doing a lot more than that, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points to match Chamberlain’s streak of 126 consecutive 20-point games that was set from 1961-63. He also handed out a career-high 15 assists with no turnovers, joining LeBron James as the only players ever to register a 35-15-0 line.
SGA capped off the night by drilling a three-pointer in the closing seconds to give the Thunder a dramatic win over Denver. According to MacMahon, he celebrated with an unusual display of emotion, strutting around the court after the final buzzer and waving to the OKC crowd.
“I don’t even remember what I was saying,” Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters. “It just happened so fast. Yeah, it usually doesn’t happen, but tonight called for it.”
MacMahon notes that Gilgeous-Alexander has developed into one of the league’s top clutch-time performers. Monday marked his third shot this season to tie a game or put the Thunder ahead in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime, which is tied for the most in the league. He has eight go-ahead baskets in the final 10 seconds over the past five years, tops in the NBA.
“Just trusting my work, first and foremost, and then just reading the defense,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of Monday’s game-winner. “Obviously, they were sending two [defenders] basically the whole second half, and I knew if I wanted to get an attempt late, I would have to go quick, go fast. And the deeper I drove, the more bodies would come. Yeah, kind of had no choice.”
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- Luguentz Dort committed another flagrant foul against Nuggets center Nikola Jokic on Monday, but the reaction to this one was less contentious than the incident 10 days ago that saw the Thunder forward get ejected, according to Anthony Slater of ESPN. Dort swung his left arm while trying to get around a Jokic screen and accidentally hit him in the face. He was whistled for a Flagrant 1 and later apologized to Jokic. “Just lost in the competition,” Dort said. “But shook his hand, [said] ‘great game’ and I apologized that that happened.”
- In a recent appearance on the X&O’s Chat podcast, Jokic said he intends to finish his career with the Nuggets, relays Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. “I wouldn’t even like to imagine that,” he said of the possibility of ever leaving Denver. “I’ve found peace here. My two kids were born here, and my family is here. I’ve built a life. I love it here.” Jokic added that he wouldn’t consider playing in the EuroLeague when his time in the NBA is done.
- Kevin Reynolds of The Salt Lake Tribune assesses the chances of the Jazz holding onto this year’s first-round pick after they improved to 20-45 with Monday’s win over Golden State. The pick will convey to the Thunder if it falls outside the top eight, and Utah is relatively safe right now with the fifth-worst record in the league. However, the Jazz are only 1.5 games away from Dallas for seventh place, which would greatly increase the chances of dropping to ninth or worse in the lottery.
Like him or not, SGA is that dude.
Imagine if defenders were allowed to defend SGA the way they defend Steph Curry? He wouldn’t be half the player the refs allow him to be. OKC are the softest champs ever. At least run through Playoffs Steph, not Rudy “never winning a ring in this league” Gobbert. Barely watchable team too, it was sickening watching all the peanut gallery ask if they were going to break Strength in Numbers 73-9 Warriors, and not only that Warriors, but the KD Hamptons 5 Warriors would crush this weak-hearted, entirely-carried-by-refs, Thunder team in 4, too. 2022 Dubs likely as well.
Imagine prime Dray/Iggy/KD breaking their spirit in the first quarter of game 1..and this is your big superteam that’s going to win 74 games? Laughable…
Defenders are allowed to guard him. He was doubled for most of the 4th quarter and still torched the Nuggets. Refs didn’t help the Thunder win at all. Just a dumb narrative
The no-calls on Nuggets’ shooters in the paint helped the Thunder win, but in this game the Thunder’s volume shooting from three was the difference. 19 3PM on 47 3PAs to the Nuggets’ 15 0n 37.
Nope, its a valid and wise narrative. This whole “SGA gets no benefit from the refs, actually” is the dumb argument.
Show us on the doll where SGA hurt you.
SGA flopping his way to superstardom isn’t the W you think it is.
He learned it from LeFlop
In all seriousness, I hate the flopping too. The league has a problem. I like SGA. He seems like a good human being. But the flopping is so lame.
See I don’t like SGA, I don’t like all Canadian NBA players, they never play the game the right way, despite their country creating the game.
The entire league should get the Curry whistle imo.
Say no more fam I’m very pro America lol
The game was created in America though so it’s ours. F that guy. Lol
Another bad take from Davey J – Canadian-born James Naismith invented the game in Springfield MA.
But the man was indeed from Canadia, America’s hat.
It’s not hard to have zero turnover stat lines when you never get called for an offensive foul.
I don’t think you realize there are other ways to get turnovers…and name a star player that does get called for offensive fouls on consistent basis?
KAT leads the league in offensive fouls.
I suppose Kat can be called a star. He is a low tier one and not a building blocker. He is in NY but when in Minnesota was not covered all that much.
He’s avgd 23 and 11 on 52%/40% shooting for his career. That’s a star, period.
Are you sure??? I thought offensive fouls were the only way to get one. 🙄
Oh do you mean like switching pivot foots multiple times in a spin move or taking 5 steps without dribbling since you can now take multiple steps while you “gather” the ball.
This is why stats and streaks like this are meaningless when comparing current streaks and stats to anything pre-2019.
Pre-2019? Man these guys have been traveling for decades now. You mean pre-1990.
Team is not even at full strength, Jalen, Chet, Ihart, and Caruso all provide better defense than Jaylin. They provide better scoring than Dort so they will have plenty of options.
That Dort foul when he tripped Jokic was bad. He should be suspended just for that. No business in a basketball game.
SGA is the best. His long frame and mechanics. Make it impossible to stop that jumper. Thats the CLASSIC Jerry West fadeaway. That they ALL stole from him. “The Logo” was the greatest shooter ever.
SGA will win another MVP this year.
OKC can have will have THREE #1 picks this draft. Just insane to fathom that lols. They still have two kids who haven’t played at all in Topic, Sorber.
Only one thing to do lols. Go Get Giannis ….
Do the triple G ….. Go Get GIANNIS.
OKC trading for Giannis would be stupid, and Presti isn’t stupid.
He’s better than any Thunder player including SGA.
You’re entitled to your opinion, but opinions aren’t facts.
OKC is proving they don’t need him, and he’s not only declining, but way too old to fit their timeline.
Dude he is ready now. Thunder aren’t winning this year. They have the assets to do it. So it doesn’t hurt them. I would do it.
“Thunder aren’t winning this year.”
I hope you’re right about that, but they’re the huge favorites to repeat for good reasons (best record, best def rtg and net rtg).