In a dazzling display of offensive prowess, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander erupted for a career-high 54 points to lead his team to a 123-114 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night. The 24-year-old sensation was absolutely unstoppable, slicing through the Jazz defense and scoring at will from all three levels.
A Night to Remember
From the opening tip, it was clear that Gilgeous-Alexander was locked in and ready to put on a show. He came out of the gates on fire, pouring in 23 points in the first half alone to push the Thunder to a slim 57-55 lead at the break. But he was just getting started.
Third Quarter Takeover
In the third quarter, SGA kicked things into overdrive. He erupted for 18 points in the period, showcasing his full offensive arsenal. Gilgeous-Alexander relentlessly attacked the basket, finishing through contact and earning trips to the free throw line. He also caught fire from the perimeter, draining several contested jumpers to extend the Thunder lead to 95-89 heading into the final frame.
“I was just trying to be aggressive and make plays for my team. My teammates did a great job of finding me and putting me in positions to score. I just tried to take advantage.”
– Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on his career night
Closing Time
After a brief rest to start the fourth, Gilgeous-Alexander checked back in with the Thunder clinging to a 102-99 advantage. He immediately went back to work, drilling a clutch three-pointer to push the lead to 115-106. SGA then secured his 50-piece with a silky smooth pull-up jumper over the outstretched arms of Lauri Markkanen, giving OKC an insurmountable 119-110 edge with just over a minute to play.
When the final buzzer sounded, Gilgeous-Alexander had poured in a monstrous stat line of 54 points on 17-35 shooting (17-18 FT), to go along with 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. He became just the fourth player in Thunder history to record a 50-point game and the first since Russell Westbrook in 2017.
Supporting Cast Steps Up
While it was undoubtedly the SGA show in OKC, he got some much-needed support from his running mate Jalen Williams. The rookie chipped in an impressive 25 points of his own as the Thunder improved to 36-7, good for a share of the league’s best record with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Williams’ growth as a consistent secondary scorer has been a major development for the upstart Thunder.
Silver Lining for Utah
Despite the 123-114 road defeat, Utah got some strong production from its big men. John Collins led the Jazz with 22 points and 12 rebounds, while 2022 draft pick Walker Kessler held his own with 17 points and 15 boards. Collin Sexton filled up the boxscore as well with 18 points and 9 assists in a losing effort as Utah dropped their fourth straight contest.
What’s Next
- The Thunder look to stay red-hot Saturday against the 76ers (8PM ET)
- Utah aims to snap their skid Friday against Stephen Curry and the Warriors (10PM ET)
With this epic eruption and the Thunder sitting atop the loaded Western Conference, Gilgeous-Alexander is rapidly inserting himself into the MVP conversation. If he continues to perform at this unbelievable level and OKC keeps piling up the wins, SGA could find himself hoisting the league’s highest individual honor at season’s end. One thing is for certain: the basketball world will be watching #2 a whole lot closer from here on out.
