Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made NBA history Thursday (March 12) night in Oklahoma City, breaking a scoring record that had stood for 63 years. The Oklahoma City Thunder superstar scored at least 20 points for the 127th consecutive game, surpassing a record held by NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain since 1963.
Gilgeous-Alexander made history with a 20-foot jump shot early in the third quarter, after entering halftime with 17 points. He went on to finish with 35 points, nine assists, and six rebounds, leading the Thunder to a dramatic 104-102 win over the Boston Celtics.
The record-breaking moment came in a high-stakes matchup that many see as a possible NBA Finals preview. The game featured 19 lead changes and 11 ties, with the Celtics holding an 83-80 lead after three quarters. Oklahoma City rallied in the fourth, with Gilgeous-Alexander draining a foul-line jumper to give the Thunder a 102-100 lead with 29.6 seconds left. Boston’s Jaylen Brown then tied it at 102, before Chet Holmgren was fouled with 0.8 seconds remaining and sank both free throws to seal the win.
After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander summed up his approach with trademark brevity: “Stack days, stack plays, stack wins, stack games.” When asked about those who helped him reach the milestone, he added, “It takes a village to accomplish great things.”
Chamberlain’s original record of 126 consecutive games with 20 or more points was set between October 1961 and January 1963. Gilgeous-Alexander tied it Monday (March 9) and broke it just days later. The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player’s current streak dates back to November 1, 2024.
The numbers behind the streak are staggering. During the run, Gilgeous-Alexander has scored between 30 and 39 points 62 times, topped 40 points 13 times, and surpassed 50 points on five occasions. His personal best during the streak is 55 points, scored in a double-overtime win over the Indiana Pacers. Thursday’s performance marked the 38th time this season he has scored 30 or more points in a single game.
Gilgeous-Alexander was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Over the past three seasons, he has made the All-Star team, earned first-team All-Pro honors, and recorded three top-five MVP finishes, winning the award last season for the first time.
With the win, Oklahoma City improved to 52-15, the best record in the NBA. The Thunder have now won seven straight games and appear well-positioned for a deep playoff run, following their championship last season. Boston fell to 43-23 with the loss, now four and a half games behind the Detroit Pistons for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.