Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made history in Oklahoma City, while the Thunder and Celtics battled in a nail-biting finish that had fans on edge…YankeeSports reports.
Shai’s record-setting night
The Thunder star scored 35 points, nine assists, and six rebounds in a 104-102 victory over the Boston Celtics. More importantly, he surpassed Wilt Chamberlain’s long-standing record for consecutive 20-point games, reaching 127 straight. The milestone came with a midrange jumper in the third quarter that tied the game at 69-all.
Gilgeous-Alexander was clinical, hitting 13 of 18 shots from the field. His late-game heroics included a pull-up jumper to break a 98-all tie and another clutch basket with 29.6 seconds left to put Oklahoma City ahead 102-100.
Holmgren seals the win
With the game tied at 102, Chet Holmgren grabbed a rebound and was fouled with 0.9 seconds remaining. He calmly sank both free throws to secure the win. Boston’s Payton Pritchard had a chance to steal it at the buzzer, but his long three-pointer missed.
Afterwards, Gilgeous-Alexander said: “It’s special to be mentioned alongside Wilt. Records are nice, but winning games is what matters most.”
Celtics fight without Tatum
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 34 points, keeping the Celtics in contention throughout. However, they were without Jayson Tatum, who continues to recover from Achilles surgery. He has played three games since returning, including Tuesday’s loss at San Antonio, but sat out this clash.
The matchup between the defending champion Thunder, who hold the league’s best record, and the 2024 champion Celtics, second in the East, lived up to its billing with drama until the final second.
What’s next
The Celtics will look to bounce back when they host the Washington Wizards on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Thunder aim to extend their winning streak to eight as they welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
With Gilgeous-Alexander rewriting history and Oklahoma City riding momentum, the Thunder’s push for dominance looks stronger than ever.
