Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Drops 54 Points as Thunder Tie NBA’s Best Record

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a career-defining performance Wednesday night, scoring 54 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a decisive victory over the Utah Jazz. The win propelled the Thunder to a 36-7 record, tying them with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the NBA‘s best record.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the league’s MVP frontrunner, shot 17-for-35 from the field while adding eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks. His dominant outing came just hours after former NBA player Nick Young criticized the Thunder star’s MVP candidacy, claiming his stats were inflated by playing in blowouts.

The 26-year-old guard has been a force this season, averaging 31.5 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 53% from the field. His performance against Utah further solidified his case for the league’s top individual honor.

Young’s comments, posted on X (formerly Twitter), suggested that Gilgeous-Alexander’s numbers were padded by extended minutes in lopsided games. However, data shows the Thunder guard has played fewer fourth-quarter minutes (31) than Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum (33) this season, despite outscoring Tatum by 13 points in those periods.

The Thunder’s success this season has been fueled by their dominance in close games. Oklahoma City has a +538 point differential, compared to Boston’s +413, and has secured 20 victories by 15 or more points. Gilgeous-Alexander’s efficiency is even more impressive considering he ranks 35th in minutes per game (34.1) among NBA players, well below Tatum’s 36.3.

With the win, the Thunder now share the league’s best record with the Cavaliers, who lost a close game to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. Oklahoma City will look to claim sole possession of the top spot Thursday night when they face the Dallas Mavericks in the second half of a back-to-back.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise to MVP contention has silenced critics who once questioned his long-range shooting and overall impact. His performance against Utah not only showcased his scoring prowess but also his ability to contribute across multiple facets of the game, further cementing his status as one of the NBA’s elite players.