Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Strengthens MVP Case With Fourth 50-Point Game

SGA scored 51 points as the Thunder won their 50th game of the season Monday.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Gilgeous-Alexander gestures to his team after a score against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Paycom Center.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Gilgeous-Alexander gestures to his team after a score against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Paycom Center. / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his incredible season Monday when he scored 51 points on the Houston Rockets to help his Oklahoma City Thunder grab their 50th win of the season. It was his fourth 50-point game this season, the most across the NBA. In fact, no other player has more than one 50-ball this year.

All of Gilgeous-Alexander's 50-point games have come this calendar year, too. He dropped 50 points in a game for the first time this season Jan. 22, when he scored 54 on the Utah Jazz.

He leads the league in points per game (32.6) and total points scored (1,957). He has over 300 more points than Anthony Edwards, who has the second most total points with 1,628.

In the midst of a remarkable season leading the Western Conference's best team, Gilgeous-Alexander is running away with the NBA's Most Valuable Player award.

After the 51-point showing Monday, the NBA world was ready to crown him MVP immediately:

In addition to the 51 points, Gilgeous-Alexander had seven rebounds, two assists and a steal in Oklahoma City's 137–128 win over Houston. He was a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line on the night.

The Thunder advanced to 50–11 on the season, with an 11-game cushion on both the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.


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Blake Silverman
BLAKE SILVERMAN

Blake Silverman is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation's Detroit Bad Boys and A10Talk. He graduated from Michigan State University before receiving a master's in sports journalism from St. Bonaventure University. Outside of work, he's probably binging the latest Netflix documentary, at a yoga studio or enjoying everything Detroit sports. A lifelong Michigander, he lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, young son and their personal petting zoo of two cats and a dog.