Shai Gilgeous-Alexander passes Wilt Chamberlain as OKC Thunder outlasts Celtics
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hesitated, hitting his defender with three pump fakes from the top of the key.
But it was clear what the fans inside Paycom Center wanted him to do. They wanted him to score a bucket that would give him the record for the most consecutive 20-point games in NBA history (127), passing Wilt Chamberlain. And he finally obliged.
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Gilgeous-Alexander launched a 20-footer over Boston's Baylor Sheierman that splashed through the rim, giving him 21 points and sole possession of the record.
That sent the home crowd into a frenzy, and it continued to celebrate at the end of the night. Chet Holmgren snatched an offensive rebound and made game-winning free throws with 0.8 seconds remaining to secure OKC's 104-102 win Thursday.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points, nine assists and six rebounds in 39 minutes. He went 13 for 18 from the field (2 for 5 from deep).
Here are three takeaways from the win:
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Jaylen Brown carried a short-handed Boston team
Jaylen Brown has been on a roll all season. He's a big reason why Boston (43-22) has remained one of the top teams in the NBA despite being without Jayson Tatum for all but two games, and he carried that momentum into Thursday.
Brown got a full head of steam toward the rim after stealing the ball with 8:18 left in the first quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander then tried to stop the Celtics' star guard, who simply cleared him out of the way by dropping his right shoulder before sinking a layup.
Brown then used those same shoulders to carry Boston throughout the game on a night when it was without Tatum (right Achilles injury management), Derrick White (right knee contusion) and Nikola Vucevic (right ring finger fracture). He racked up 34 points, seven assists and six rebounds in the losing effort.
It was an impressive performance by Brown, who was named the NBA Finals MVP two seasons ago. The 10th-year pro is averaging career highs of 28.3 points, 7.1 assists and six rebounds this season.
Jaylin Williams always brings the energy
It's impossible for OKC to have bad energy when Jaylin Williams is on the floor.
The backup big man is more like a backup generator. A reliable source of electricity that the Thunder can turn to when it needs a spark off the bench. And that was the case when his number got called with 8:52 left in the second quarter.
Boston had surged to a 38-29 lead, its largest advantage of the night at the point. But OKC quickly swung momentum in its favor thanks in large part to Williams.
After flashing his floor spacing with a 3-pointer at the 6:55 mark, Williams flashed his playmaking on the Thunder's next possession. He delivered a dime of a bounce pass to a cutting Aaron Wiggins for an easy layup.
Then, Williams flashed his signature smile as he high-fived an equally-ecstatic Cason Wallace.
OKC went on to claim the lead during the second quarter, and Williams ended the night with nine points and two rebounds in 20 meaningful minutes off the bench.
OKC continues to weather the storm
This four-game homestand was advertised as the perfect storm. A dangerous combination of challenging opponents.
But that hasn't fazed the Thunder.
After earning wins over Golden State and Denver, OKC outlasted Boston to extend its winning streak to seven games. And it did so by receiving key contributions from guys throughout the rotation.
Williams and Wiggins scored nine points apiece off the bench, while Alex Caruso added seven points, two steals and a block.
Ajay Mitchell also made his first start since Jan. 21 and took some playmaking pressure off of Gilgeous-Alexander. The sophomore guard recorded six assists to go along with 15 points and four rebounds in 30 minutes.
And, of course, Holmgren battled on the boards in the absence of Isaiah Hartenstein (left calf contusion). He snagged nine rebounds, none of which were bigger than his offensive board in the closing seconds that led to his game-winning free throws. He chipped in 14 points as well.
OKC will finish its homestand with one more challenge. It'll host Minnesota at noon CT Sunday.
Tip-ins
∎ OKC was without Branden Carlson (low back strain), Isaiah Hartenstein (left calf contusion), Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery), Nikola Topić (G League assignment) and Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain).
∎ Boston was without Jayson Tatum (right Achilles injury management), John Tonje (G League two-way), Nikola Vucevic (right ring finger fracture) and Derrick White (right knee contusion).
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at [email protected] 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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TIPOFF: Noon Sunday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City (ABC)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sets 20-point mark as Thunder outlasts Celtics