OKLAHOMA CITY — NBA history was made Thursday night as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpassed a legendary milestone that had remained untouched for over six decades.
Gilgeous-Alexander shattered Wilt Chamberlain’s record for most consecutive games scoring 20 or more points, reaching his 127th straight game during the Thunder’s 104-102 victory over the Boston Celtics.
The record-breaking moment arrived in the third quarter when Gilgeous-Alexander converted two free throws to reach 19 points. With the Oklahoma City crowd rising to their feet in anticipation, the star guard used several pump fakes before sinking a jumper over Boston’s Baylor Scheierman from just inside the free-throw line with 7:04 remaining in the quarter, bringing his total to 21 points.
The Thunder guard concluded the evening with 35 points and nine assists in the thrilling two-point victory.
Chamberlain’s previous mark had remained intact since 1963, and initially it appeared Gilgeous-Alexander might face difficulty reaching the milestone. He remained scoreless until the midpoint of the opening quarter, though he managed 10 points by the period’s end and had accumulated 17 by halftime.
Last season’s MVP winner has maintained remarkable consistency for the defending champion Thunder, potentially positioning himself for another MVP honor. After claiming the scoring championship last year, he currently ranks second in league scoring this season while Oklahoma City holds the NBA’s top record.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault praised his star player’s unwavering dedication before the game.
“That’s the impressive thing about him,” Daigneault said. “Human nature is that you have success, you ease a little bit, and he’s the opposite. He tastes it, he wants more, he wants to come back for seconds.”
Chamberlain’s original streak spanned from 1961 to 1963, including every contest of the 1961-62 campaign for the Philadelphia Warriors — the same season featuring his legendary 100-point performance in 1962. The Hall of Famer’s consecutive games streak concluded on January 20, 1963, when officials ejected him after only four minutes while playing for the San Francisco Warriors against St. Louis.
Gilgeous-Alexander had matched Chamberlain’s record Monday night, posting 35 points against the Denver Nuggets along with career-high 15 assists and nine rebounds, capped by the game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds.
“He puts the work behind it, does it consistently,” Daigneault explained. “He’s a perfectionist when it comes to his craft. He’s got an unbelievably high bar for himself, and yet, he’s incredibly empathic with his teammates.”
During his remarkable run, Gilgeous-Alexander has recorded five games of 50 or more points, highlighted by a career-best 55-point performance against Indiana in this season’s second game. His last sub-20 point outing occurred on October 30, 2024, when he managed 18 points versus San Antonio.
Earlier this season, Gilgeous-Alexander had already surpassed Chamberlain’s second-longest streak of 92 consecutive games. The Thunder have compiled an impressive 103-24 record throughout Gilgeous-Alexander’s historic run.
The achievement caps a remarkable week for NBA scoring accomplishments, as Miami’s Bam Adebayo tallied 83 points Tuesday night — the second-highest total in league history behind Chamberlain’s century mark.
