Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, originally from Hamilton, Ontario, has tied one of the NBA’s longest-standing records by scoring 20 or more points in 126 consecutive regular-season games. He reached this milestone on Monday night with a 35-point performance, complemented by a career-high 15 assists, during a thrilling 129-126 victory over the Denver Nuggets. This achievement places Gilgeous-Alexander alongside Wilt Chamberlain, who set the original streak decades ago.
Gilgeous-Alexander will have the opportunity to extend this streak further on Thursday, when the Thunder face the Boston Celtics. The matchup starts at 9:30 p.m. ET, spotlighting Gilgeous-Alexander as he pursues a place in NBA history.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s Focus Beyond the Streak
Although recognizing the significance of tying Chamberlain’s record, Gilgeous-Alexander remains grounded about the achievement. Reflecting on his journey, he shared,
“It’s crazy to think that where I was 10 years ago, I’d be here today.”
Despite the milestone, he avoids fixating on the streak itself during the playing season.
He explained his mindset, saying,
“It’s still a lot to even wrap my head around. To be honest with you, I try to not even think about it, especially during the season. So much is going on, so many things have to go right for you to get what you ultimately want, and that gets 100 per cent of my focus, especially basketball-wise.”
Analyzing the Numbers Behind Both Streaks
When comparing Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak to Chamberlain’s remarkable run, several statistics stand out. During Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak, the Thunder have posted a dominant 102-24 record, whereas Chamberlain’s Warriors managed a 66-60 record amid his scoring feats.
Chamberlain’s highest-scoring game in the streak was the legendary 100-point outburst against New York on March 2, 1962, while Gilgeous-Alexander’s top performance during the streak is 55 points, scored against Indiana on October 23. Notably, Chamberlain achieved 42 games scoring 55 points or more within his run. Additionally, Gilgeous-Alexander has only two games scoring exactly 20 points, with his average during the stretch at 32.5 points per game compared to Chamberlain’s 49.2. Both players maintained impressive shooting accuracy, with Gilgeous-Alexander posting a .535 shooting percentage and Chamberlain a .511.
Wilt Chamberlain’s Streak Conclusion and the Context
Wilt Chamberlain’s streak of 126 consecutive games with 20 or more points came to an end on January 19, 1963, during a game in St. Louis. Although he recorded 35 points and 21 rebounds in a 116-114 loss to the Hawks, he was ejected early in the following night’s rematch after receiving two technical fouls for “abusive language” toward the officiating crew.
The ejection led to a drop in Chamberlain’s scoring average from 47.0 to 46.2 points per game and included a mandatory NBA fine of at least $50 US. The incident abruptly halted what otherwise could have been an extended streak.
Wilt’s Return to Scoring Dominance After Ejection
Following the ejection, Chamberlain resumed his 20-point streak on January 22, 1963, in San Francisco against Detroit, scoring 39 points. Despite a fourth-quarter melee involving multiple punches and even fans running onto the floor at the Cow Palace, no additional fouls or technicals were assessed during that game. Analysts today believe that, if not for the rare ejection, Chamberlain’s streak might have extended to 147 games.
The Significance of Gilgeous-Alexander’s Achievement in NBA History
Tying Wilt Chamberlain’s 126-game streak places Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in an elite class of NBA legends. His consistent scoring ability over multiple seasons with the Thunder, combined with his improving all-around game, has marked him as one of the premier talents in the league and a leading candidate for the MVP award.
As Gilgeous-Alexander continues to build on this streak, his performances are drawing increased attention from basketball fans and analysts, while highlighting the growth of Canadian talent in the NBA. The outcome of Thursday’s game against the Celtics will provide the next chapter in what is shaping up to be a historic scoring run.
