OKLAHOMA CITY — The legendary Wilt Chamberlain owns one much less NBA file because of Oklahoma City Thunder celebrity Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, broke a file held by Chamberlain for greater than six a long time by scoring at the least 20 factors in 127 consecutive regular-season video games.
Gilgeous-Alexander reached the milestone in Thursday’s dwelling recreation towards the Boston Celticssurpassing 20 factors with a 20-foot jumper with 7:04 remaining within the third quarter, eliciting a roar from the Paycom Center crowd. He obtained a standing ovation and MVP chants throughout the subsequent timeout when the historic second was acknowledged on the videoboard.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak began on Nov. 1, 2024. He had averaged 32.5 factors per recreation throughout the streak getting into Friday night time and is on tempo to turn out to be the primary participant to common at the least 30 factors per recreation in 4 consecutive seasons since Michael Jordan.
“Human nature is that you have success and you ease a little bit,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated pregame. “He’s the opposite. He tastes it and wants more. He goes back for seconds.”
Chamberlain’s 126-game streak began on Oct. 19, 1961 — the season opener of the marketing campaign that the Hall of Famer set NBA scoring data for a season (50.4 factors per recreation) and recreation (100) that also stand right now — and lasted via Jan. 19, 1963. The streak ended when Chamberlain was ejected from a recreation within the first quarter.
Chamberlain nonetheless holds data for the longest streaks of scoring 30 factors (65 video games), 40 factors (14 video games), 50 factors (seven video games) and 60 factors (4 video games).
Chamberlain additionally scored 20 factors in 92 straight video games from Feb. 26, 1963, via March 18, 1964, which was the second-longest such streak in NBA historical past till Gilgeous-Alexander surpassed it.
No different NBA participant has scored 20 factors in 80 straight video games. The subsequent longest 20-point streak was 79 video games by Oscar Robertston. Kevin Durant and Jordan every scored 20 in 72 straight gamest to tie for fifth on the listing.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who was held below 20 factors in three playoff video games throughout Oklahoma City’s championship run final season, has completed with precisely 20 factors solely twice throughout his streak. Both of these events occurred throughout lopsided wins for the Thunder this season.
The second of these 20-point video games, which occurred in a Feb. 3 dwelling win over the Orlando Magicwas probably the most severe risk to the streak. After sustaining an stomach pressure, Gilgeous-Alexander continued enjoying till he made a free throw to provide him 20 factors late within the third quarter. He subbed out after the following possession, when the Thunder led by 29 factors with 1:48 remaining within the third, and missed the following 9 video games.
Oklahoma City’s file throughout Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak was 102-24 getting into Friday’s recreation towards the Celtics.
