DALLAS — A mean-mugging Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stomped over to the bench on Sunday night.
Alex Caruso reached out his hand for a high-five, but he didn’t receive any palm. He just smacked the fist of Gilgeous-Alexander, who clenched both hands. The superstar guard was still fired up after punching the ball through the rim on a drive during the second quarter of OKC’s 100-87 win over Dallas.
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There was no patented pull-up jumper from the mid range. No settling for a standard layup over his defender, Max Christie. Just an aerial display that even took the American Airlines Center crowd by surprise.
And while Gilgeous-Alexander says he didn’t intend to deliver a message with the dunk, he did exactly that. After recently missing nine games across 22 days due to an abdominal strain, the reigning MVP doesn’t need any more runway.
He’s cleared for takeoff.
“I ramped up the workouts leading up to the games when I knew I was coming back,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, who recorded 30 points and five assists against Dallas in his second game back. “The guys who helped me in the workouts did a pretty good job of making them game-like, so I feel pretty good. Especially cardio-wise, I don’t feel like I missed a beat. … I definitely have my legs underneath me a little bit more than I did before the injury, just with the time off.”
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Gilgeous-Alexander has now scored at least 20 points in 59 straight road games. That’s an NBA record, and his overall streak of 123 20-point performances ranks second only to Wilt Chamberlain (126 games).
OKC (47-15) has now won five of its last six games. Here are three takeaways from the win:
Order new book on Thunder’s run to NBA title
More: 10 OKC Thunder predictions: SGA can pull off rare double trophy repeat
Mar 1, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) looks to move the ball past Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin (16) during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Chet Holmgren was a frustrating force of nature
Dwight Powell bounced right back up after being dropped by Chet Holmgren, who blew past him on the perimeter and finished a layup midway through the first quarter.
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The veteran big man was clearly fine, although his ego appeared to be bruised. And when Holmgren sank an 18-footer over him on OKC’s next possession, adding insult to the internal injury, Powell voiced his frustration to the officials while jogging up the floor. He quickly received a technical foul.
Holmgren gave Dallas’ entire team fits. From finishing at the rim to extending his range to crashing the glass to showing off his mobility, the 7-foot-1 forward caused problems on both ends.
Holmgren stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 28 minutes. He went 8 for 14 from the field (1 for 5 from deep).
More: Chet Holmgren’s path to NBA All-Star Game began with bold claim and channeled ambition
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Jared McCain stays ready
Jared McCain didn’t stay seated as a timeout unfolded late in the first quarter.
The sophomore guard was shuffling his feet from side to side underneath the rim. And when he checked into the game to start the second quarter, he wasn’t just warm. He was red hot.
McCain erupted for nine points in his first 10 minutes of action, and he did damage from all three levels. He got downhill for layups, cashed in from the mid range and also spaced the floor with his 3-point shooting.
McCain ultimately ended the night with 11 points and one assist in 22 minutes off the bench. It was yet another impressive performance by a player who has already acclimated himself since being traded from Philadelphia to OKC at the deadline.
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That’s easier said than done when joining a championship team, especially at only 22 years old.
“I just think when you’re in his situation, he’s a second-year player who’s joining a team that’s like a moving train,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said. “There’s a lot of continuity in our locker room, and the team has accomplished a lot together. And so to come in the way that he has with the confidence that he has but also the functionality, it’s a very hard needle to thread. I have a lot of respect for how he has done that.”
More: Jared McCain may be new to OKC Thunder, but he ‘looks like he has been here’ a while
Isaiah Joe woke OKC up from deep
As it entered the fourth quarter, OKC needed to wake up from behind the arc. It had only gone 6 for 29 (20.7%) in that department, and no player had multiple makes.
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But that’s when it got a late cup of Joe.
Isaiah Joe checked into the game and immediately provided a shot of adrenaline, sinking two 3-pointers in the first two minutes and change. The first came off the catch, as he curled around a screen by Isaiah Hartenstein before drilling a 26-footer. And the second came off the dribble, as he lost his defender with a stepback before connecting on a 25-footer.
Joe is arguably on the best shooting streak of his sixth-year career. He shot 50% from deep on 7.2 attempts per game in the month of February.
Joe then began March by posting 14 points and five rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench against Dallas. He went 5 for 9 from the field (3 for 7 from deep).
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“The guy can flat-out shoot it with the best of them,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I’m not surprised by any of it. He didn’t start the year as hot as he is now, so I knew it would even out. I’m not surprised at all.”
More: Isaiah Joe is an elite 3-point shooter, but there’s more to OKC Thunder guard’s game
Tip-ins
∎ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 20 points in 123 consecutive games. That ranks second in NBA history, only trailing Wilt Chamberlain (126 games).
∎ Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 20 points in 59 consecutive road games. That’s the longest streak in NBA history.
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∎ OKC was without Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain and left ankle sprain), Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery) and Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain).
∎ Dallas was without Marvin Bagley III (neck sprain), Cooper Flagg (left midfoot sprain), Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery), Miles Kelly (not with the team), Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery), Naji Marshall (right finger contusion) and P.J. Washington (left ankle sprain).
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder cruise past Dallas Mavericks