Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 52-Point Performance: A Night of Mixed Emotions for the Thunder
In the world of sports, there are nights when individual brilliance shines so brightly that it almost overshadows the outcome of the game. Yet, for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, Wednesday night in San Francisco was not one of those occasions. Despite Gilgeous-Alexander’s second career 50-point game, the Thunder fell to the Golden State Warriors 116-109. It was a rare loss for the Western Conference leaders, and the star guard’s 52 points were not enough to secure a victory.
Gilgeous-Alexander, reflecting on the game, expressed his disappointment, saying, “It sucks. Me personally, I play to win. Winning comes first and foremost, and if I don’t win, I am not satisfied. So maybe my 52 points tonight wasn’t in the best interest of the team.”
His performance was historic nonetheless. Gilgeous-Alexander became the first player in the league with multiple 50-point performances this season. He had previously scored a career-high 54 points in the Thunder’s Jan. 22 home win over the Utah Jazz. This achievement places him alongside Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook as the only players in franchise history with multiple 50-point performances in a season.
Currently leading the NBA in scoring with an average of 32.5 points per game, Gilgeous-Alexander’s efficiency was on full display. He finished the game 16-of-29 from the floor and 18-of-21 from the free-throw line, marking the most free throw attempts of his career.
Even the opposition couldn’t help but admire his skills. “He’s cold,” said Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins. “He’s tough. He can score at all three levels; he gets to the foul line and he doesn’t stop. The whole game he’s at you. … We did the best we can.”
Thunder’s Strong Start and Warriors’ Resilience
The Thunder, with a record of 37-9, got off to a flying start at Chase Center, thanks to Gilgeous-Alexander’s blistering first quarter. He scored 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting, helping Oklahoma City jump to a 14-point lead. His display of ballhandling, body control, and shot-making was a spectacle, even as the Warriors frequently sent a second defender his way.
Thunder forward Jalen Williams, who contributed 26 points on 12-of-26 shooting, admitted, “Sometimes, even when you’re out there, you kind of get caught watching. Because he’s getting to places on the floor that you shouldn’t be able to with how the defense is guarding him. And it’s kind of just one of those things that you got to snap out of it a little bit and not get caught watching and be ready to be an outlet for him or cut or still be engaged in the offense.”
According to ESPN Research, it was the second time in two weeks that Gilgeous-Alexander has single-handedly outscored the opposing team in the first quarter, a feat no other player in the league has accomplished more than once this season. The first instance saw the Thunder cruise to a blowout win over the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 16.
Challenges in the Final Quarters
However, the Thunder’s momentum waned as the game progressed. Oklahoma City players other than Gilgeous-Alexander struggled to find their rhythm in the final quarters, managing only 75 points on 37.3% shooting as the Warriors mounted their comeback.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault acknowledged the challenge, saying, “There’s probably a tendency in those situations where he’s just humming [to get caught watching Gilgeous-Alexander]. But we also have an identity as a team. We have a bunch of guys that have confidence. We have to be that team regardless of context. Whether he’s having an off night, which doesn’t happen often, or whether he’s having a night like tonight.”
In an effort to spark the offense, Daigneault adjusted his rotation in the fourth quarter, bringing Gilgeous-Alexander back into the game with the score tied and 9:55 remaining, about three minutes earlier than usual.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr humorously recounted, “I don’t know what to do with Shai. I asked Mark to just leave him on the bench for a couple of more minutes, and he did not comply. I looked down to Mark and said, ‘You can’t give him like two more minutes. That would be really helpful for us.’ And Mark just laughed.”
Despite Gilgeous-Alexander’s efforts, the Warriors, now 24-23, pulled away in the final stretch. His last two buckets came in the final minute when the Warriors were up by three-possession margins.
Reflecting on the game, Gilgeous-Alexander said, “I’ll watch the game over, see where I could have been better and trying to win the game is most important for me. I’m not satisfied. This doesn’t feel nearly as good as the other [50-point performance] did because of the L.”
ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk contributed to this report.
Originally Written by: Tim MacMahon
