Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered another dominant scoring performance in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 137-128 win over the Houston Rockets on Monday night, making NBA history in the process. In just 36 minutes, he racked up 51 points, seven assists, five rebounds, a steal, and a block. He shot an efficient 18-of-30 from the field and knocked down 5-of-9 from deep. Most of his damage came in the first and third quarters, where he poured in 37 points combined.
This marked the fourth time Gilgeous-Alexander has reached the 50-point mark in his career, with all four performances coming this season.
He set a career-high with 54 points against the Utah Jazz on Jan. 22, followed by 52 against the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 29 and 50 against the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 5.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being better than 99.4% of all NBA players in history
According to StatMamba, this puts him ahead of 99.4% of all players in NBA history in 50-point games.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has more 50-point games than 99.4% of all players in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/7MOXuBsF89
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) March 4, 2025
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to assert himself as one of the league’s top players. Through 59 games this season, he is averaging 32.3 points, 6.2 assists, 5.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and one block per game while shooting 52.4% from the field and 36.9% from beyond the arc.
The Canadian superstar faces tough competition in the MVP race, with Nikola Jokić putting together a historic season. Statistically, Jokić’s current campaign surpasses not only Gilgeous-Alexander’s numbers but also his own previous three MVP seasons. By several metrics, Jokić’s performance ranks as one of the best in NBA history.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s case for MVP
However, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the league in scoring and has propelled the Thunder to the best record in the West, holding an 11-game advantage over Jokić’s Nuggets as of Monday night. That dominance could be enough to influence MVP voters, who are often swayed by narrative and fatigue from repeat winners.
The Oklahoma City Thunder now stands at 50-11, holding firm to the top spot in the Western Conference. They also own the league’s second-best record, sitting just 0.5 games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After defeating the Rockets on Monday, the Thunder will shift their focus to their next challenge on the road. They take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET.
