Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not playing games. Well, technically, he is — 126 of them in a row with at least 20 points, to be exact. And on Monday night against the Denver Nuggets, the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar did something that no player in NBA history had done since Wilt Chamberlain himself: reach 126 consecutive games with 20+ points.
How SGA Tied Wilt Chamberlain’s Record Against the Nuggets
It didn’t come easy — because nothing worth celebrating ever does. The Thunder and Nuggets were locked in a war Monday night at Paycom Center. OKC needed a hero, and SGA delivered the way only SGA can. He reached the historic mark with a third-quarter three-pointer, his 20th, 21st, and 22nd points of the night in one pull-up swish. But the real drama? That came late.
With the Thunder seemingly set to close out the game after SGA drilled a triple from the top of the arc with 13.6 seconds left, putting OKC up four, Nikola Jokic said, “Hold on.” The big man answered with a three of his own. Then Jamal Murray converted a free throw after drawing a foul from Jaylin Williams in the process of Jokic’s bucket, completing a four-point play. Just like that, it was tied. Nobody panicked. Gilgeous-Alexander is not a guy who panics.
SGA worked past Spencer Jones on the wing and buried a 26-foot step-back three-pointer with 2.7 seconds on the clock. Thunder win, 129-126. Record tied. Building rocked.
SGA’s Final Stat Line Was Something Else
On a night where he etched his name alongside one of the greatest players in basketball history, SGA went out and put up 35 points, 15 assists, and 9 rebounds on 14-of-21 shooting. He nearly had a triple-double. He nearly made history look routine. He nearly gave everyone in the building a heart attack. He’s good at all of those things.
The streak itself dates back to Oct. 30, 2024. Since then, the man has not dipped below 20. Not once. In 126 straight games. He’s been averaging 31.6 points per game this season, following up a 32.7-point MVP campaign a year ago.
Thunder Are Built For a Championship Run
This wasn’t just a personal milestone night. The Thunder improved to 51-15 on the season, sitting comfortably on top of the Western Conference. Jaylin Williams dropped 29 points, 12 rebounds, and made seven threes, a career high. Ajay Mitchell, back after missing 20 games with injury, came off the bench and looked like he never left, finishing with 24 points and a plus-11 in just 29 minutes.
What Comes Next For the Thunder
SGA will get his crack at the record outright when the Thunder host the Boston Celtics on Thursday. One more game. One more 20-point performance. And Chamberlain’s record, held for over 60 years, belongs to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander alone. No pressure. He’s only done it 126 times in a row.
The Thunder have beaten the Nuggets three times this season now. They’re the betting favorites to win the NBA title. SGA is the frontrunner for MVP. Everything is pointing in one direction for this team. History is being written in Oklahoma City, one bucket at a time.
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