Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has made history by surpassing the legendary Wilt Chamberlain for the most consecutive games scoring at least 20 points, achieving an impressive streak of 127 games. This remarkable feat was accomplished during the Oklahoma City Thunder’s matchup against the Boston Celtics on March 12, where he sealed the record with a jumper from near the top of the key in the third quarter. The Thunder triumphed over the Celtics with a final score of 104-102.
The atmosphere in the Paycom Center was electric as fans eagerly anticipated the record-breaking moment. When Gilgeous-Alexander made the shot, the crowd erupted in cheers. The public address announcer celebrated the achievement, and a graphic on the Jumbotron highlighted this iconic moment in NBA history.
After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander reflected on his achievement, stating, “None of the things I accomplish would matter if we weren’t winning. I probably wouldn’t have the streak if we weren’t winning. I know that and I understand that. It’s why you play the game. I was crying when I was nine years old because I lost an (Ontario Basketball Association) championship. You don’t want to lose. The streak is the streak. The awards are the awards. But the thing I’m most proud of is winning.”
In the game, Gilgeous-Alexander demonstrated his scoring prowess, finishing with 35 points on an efficient 13-of-18 shooting performance. He also contributed 9 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals. Although he had a slow start in the first quarter, he quickly found his rhythm, scoring 10 points by attacking the rim and earning trips to the free-throw line.
His scoring continued in the second quarter, where he added 7 points as the Thunder sought to close the gap against the Celtics. However, the third quarter proved challenging, as the Celtics deployed double-teams to limit his scoring opportunities, resulting in just 4 points during that period. Nonetheless, he led all players with 8 assists through three quarters.
In a thrilling fourth quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander came alive, scoring 14 points to help secure the victory. He was instrumental in the closing moments of the game, netting six of Oklahoma City's final eight points to seal the win against Boston.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault praised Gilgeous-Alexander's exceptional talent and character, stating, “You get lost in the season and you take for granted what you’re watching every night, but No. 1: he’s surgical at his craft — no one is more precise with their craft than he is. And No. 2: the whole life of the streak has not prevented us from having a ton of team success and hasn’t prevented his teammates from having success, either. Great father, great husband, great teammate. Treats everybody in the building, from top to bottom, with dignity. So, obviously, he’s a great basketball player. But he’s the kind of person you couldn’t be happier for.”
At just 27 years old and a four-time All-Star, Gilgeous-Alexander has firmly established himself among the NBA’s elite. As of this game, he ranked second in the league in scoring, averaging 31.7 points per game, only behind Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić.
Gilgeous-Alexander tied Chamberlain’s previous record on March 9 during a game against the Denver Nuggets, where he also scored 35 points along with 15 assists and 9 rebounds, sealing the game with a clutch three-pointer in the final seconds. The significance of this record highlights both his scoring consistency and availability, as the last time he scored fewer than 20 points in a game was on October 30, 2024, when he managed 18 points in a victory over the Spurs.
With this new milestone, Gilgeous-Alexander joins Chamberlain as the only two players in NBA history to achieve a 20-point scoring streak of 100 games or more. Following Chamberlain's 92-game streak, other notable players on the list include Oscar Robertson (79), Michael Jordan and Kevin Durant (72), and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (71).
Chamberlain's own streak was marked by an astounding average of 49.2 points per game, spanning from October 19, 1961, to January 19, 1963, before it ended with an ejection early in a game. In contrast, Gilgeous-Alexander's streak has coincided with a significantly better win-loss record for his team; the Thunder have a remarkable 103-24 record in games where he has scored at least 20 points, compared to Chamberlain's Warriors, who had a 66-60 record during his streak.
Source: USA TODAY News