March 9, 2026Updated March 10, 2026, 12:35 a.m. CT
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spent most of the third quarter with a hand on his chest.
It belonged to Denver’s Christian Braun, who had no intentions of being a footnote in the record books Monday night. The guy who let Gilgeous-Alexander score on him to tie Wilt Chamberlain for the most consecutive 20-point games (126) in NBA history.
But in the end, Braun still played a hand in the historical moment. And it came at the 2:30 mark.
Gilgeous-Alexander broke free from Braun with a stepback from the top of the arc and released a 3-pointer. It found the bottom of the net, giving him 22 points and a share of a record that has been untouched since 1963.
“It’s still a lot to even wrap my head around,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “To be honest with you, I try not to even think about it, especially during the season. So much is going on, and so many things have to go right for you to get what you ultimately want. That gets 100 percent of my focus, especially basketball-wise. But obviously being in the conversation with a guy like (Chamberlain) is special.”
Of course, the game continued after Gilgeous-Alexander’s historic moment. And it was only right that he placed the finishing touches on OKC’s 129-126 home win.
Gilgeous-Alexander buried two 3-pointers in the final 13.9 seconds. The last one came with 3.3 seconds remaining while the score was tied, as he hit Spencer Jones with a stepback from the right wing before connecting from deep.
That capped off a masterful performance by Gilgeous-Alexander. The reigning MVP recorded 35 points, a career-high 15 assists and nine rebounds in 39 minutes. He went 14 for 21 from the field (3 for 7 from deep) without any turnovers.
“Tremendous poise and confidence,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said of Gilgeous-Alexander. “He doesn’t change his mindset regardless of the circumstance. He doesn’t break a sweat doing anything. It was an outstanding performance by him, not only in the last stretch but the game control and the blend of attacking and passing.”
Gilgeous-Alexander can claim sole possession of the record when OKC (51-15) hosts Boston at 8:30 p.m. CT Thursday.
Here are three takeaways from the win:
Order new book on Thunder’s run to NBA title
Aaron Gordon, Nuggets hit the ground running
The last time Aaron Gordon played inside Paycom Center, he could hardly move.
The Denver forward had dominated throughout a second-round playoff series against OKC, but he was hindered by a Grade 2 left hamstring strain during Game 7. And while he tried to gut it out, he simply didn’t have his legs underneath him in 25 minutes of action.
But Gordon made his return to that same arena on Monday, and he hit the ground running.
Gordon erupted for 19 points on 5-for-6 shooting from the field in the first seven minutes of the game. He then capped off the scoring spree by elevating for a reverse dunk that gave Denver a 29-17 lead.
Gordon capitalized early on against an undersized OKC team. The Thunder was without all three of its 7-footers in Chet Holmgren (flu), Isaiah Hartenstein (left calf contusion) and Branden Carlson (low back strain).
But OKC eventually got Gordon under wraps, and it also gained control of the game. He finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.
Ajay Mitchell showed no signs of rust in his shining return
Ajay Mitchell didn’t just hop on a moving train after missing the last 20 games due to a combination of an abdominal strain and a left ankle sprain.
He got the Thunder back on track.
OKC trailed 20-8 with 7:07 left in the opening quarter when the sophomore guard checked into his first game since Jan. 21. And he quickly assumed the role of its offensive engine.
Mitchell spaced the floor with his long-range shooting. He showed patience with his mid-range pull-ups. And he confidently attacked the rim with crafty layups.
In a situation where most players would’ve shown rust, Mitchell shined. He racked up 24 points and three assists on 9-for-16 shooting from the field (1 for 4 from deep) in 29 minutes.
“I felt pretty good,” Mitchell said. “I definitely felt like I still need to get that burst back and get that feel back. But honestly, I felt pretty good out there.”
Jaylin Williams played his heart out
Jaylin Williams had been pounding his chest all night.
But after sinking a tough reverse layup with 5:25 left in the game, the big man didn’t do any celebrating once Denver burned a timeout. He just stood in the paint in exhaustion as his chest expanded with every deep breath.
That happens when you play your heart out.
On a night when OKC was short-handed in the frontcourt, Williams came up big. And he did so on both ends of the floor, from battling for boards to protecting the rim to setting screens to knocking down 3-pointers.
Williams stuffed the stat sheet with 29 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two blocks on 10-for-17 shooting from the field in 40 minutes. He made a career-high seven 3-pointers on 11 tries.
“Honestly, I’m just going out there and competing,” Williams said. “I just want the jump ball to happen, and then I’m gonna give it my all on the court. Whether it’s rebounding, shooting, defending, passing or whatever it is, I’m going to give it my all.”
Tip-ins
∎ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 20 points in 126 straight games. That’s tied with Wilt Chamberlain for the longest streak in NBA history. He can break the record when OKC hosts Boston at 8:30 p.m. CT Thursday.
∎ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 35 points and 15 assists on Monday. He becomes just the second player in NBA history to ever register 35 points and 15 assists while committing zero turnovers.
∎ OKC was without Branden Carlson (low back strain), Alex Caruso (left hip contusion), Isaiah Hartenstein (left calf contusion), Chet Holmgren (flu), Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery) and Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain).
∎ Denver was without DaRon Holmes II (G League assignment), Curtis Jones (G League two-way), KJ Simpson (G League two-way) and Peyton Watson (right hamstring strain).
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com 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.
Thunder vs. Celtics
TIPOFF: 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City (Prime Video)