Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Extends 20-Point Streak: “I Don’t Care About It”
Not his most brilliant night, but still decisive: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reached the 20-point mark late in the game as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-103
The Oklahoma City Thunder keep piling up wins. In a 116-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Oklahoma franchise secured its eighth straight win, improving to an outstanding 53-15 record, the best in the league.
It looked like a difficult night for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who still finished with 20 points and 10 assists, keeping alive an incredible streak of 128 consecutive games with at least 20 points.
For three quarters, the Thunder’s MVP candidate had been far from his usual standards. Early in the fourth quarter, he had just 10 points, following a tough first half in which he scored 4 points on 2-of-10 shooting.
After checking back in with 7:10 remaining, Gilgeous-Alexander delivered the baskets that mattered most at the most important moment.
The key play came with 1:46 left: a step-back jumper over Anthony Edwards, plus the foul and a chance to complete the three-point play. With the crowd on its feet chanting “MVP! MVP!”, SGA knocked down the free throw to reach 20 points, extending the streak and pushing the record even further beyond the 126 consecutive games set by Wilt Chamberlain.
After the game, the Canadian guard downplayed the importance of the personal milestone:
I don’t care about anything except winning the game. It’s always been that way. This was a dirty, low-scoring game: they have a great defense and so do we. All I care about is walking off the court with a win
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
He added:
If I played like I did tonight for the rest of the season but we kept winning like this, I’d be the happiest man in the world. The only thing that matters is winning
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
By the time the crowd began chanting “MVP,” the game was already firmly in the Thunder’s hands. Gilgeous-Alexander’s free throw brought the arena to its feet, but the feeling is that this team now has many different ways to win games.