Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Opts Out of Blowout to End Record 20-Point Streak

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 17 points in a 96-84 victory against Denver, snapping a historic run of 141 consecutive regular-season games with at least 20 points.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 17 points on 6-of-19 shooting as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Denver Nuggets 96-84 on Thursday night. The performance snapped an NBA-record streak of 141 consecutive regular-season games with at least 20 points, a run that dated back to Oct. 30, 2024. Despite trailing by as many as nine points in the first half, Oklahoma City secured the home win behind 21 points from Jalen Williams and a 12-point, 17-rebound double-double from Chet Holmgren.

Gilgeous-Alexander remained three points shy of extending his streak with 1:43 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Thunder leading 93-76. After the Nuggets substituted their primary players, the two-time reigning MVP requested that coach Mark Daigneault sub him out of the game rather than pursuing the record. Daigneault noted that he intended to leave the star guard in due to the historic nature of the streak but praised the player's maturity in choosing to exit.

The Thunder star struggled early, missing all seven field goal attempts in the first 24 minutes. Two free throws in the first half prevented his first scoreless half since his 2019 rookie season with the Clippers. Denver, playing its season opener, received 20 points from Aaron Gordon and 13 points each from Nikola Jokic and DeMar DeRozan. A Mitchell layup gave Oklahoma City a 64-62 lead in the third quarter, which they extended to 70-64 by the start of the fourth period following 3-pointers by Alex Caruso and Gilgeous-Alexander.