Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Thursday reacted to his latest individual accomplishment with the Oklahoma City Thunder the way he always does: by deflecting credit and pointing to team goals, while in Los Angeles, Luka Doncic was needled by the Chicago Bulls and responded with his first 50-point game for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Gilgeous-Alexander broke Wilt Chamberlain’s record for consecutive games with 20 points or more, extending his streak to 127, but the most important thing for him was that the Thunder are 103-24 during the run.
He finished with 35 points and nine assists as the Thunder beat the Boston Celtics 104-102.
Photo: Alonzo Adams / Imagn Images
“The streak is the streak, the awards are the awards, but the thing I’m most proud of is winning,” he said.
Gilgeous-Alexander hit two free throws in the third quarter to reach 19 points. With fans on their feet, Gilgeous-Alexander pump-faked several times and drilled a jumper over Baylor Scheierman from beyond the free-throw line with 7 minutes, 4 seconds left in the period to push his total to 21.
He said he kept up with his totals as a younger player, but not anymore. He learned how close he was by listening to the fans.
Photo: AP
“I didn’t know exactly how many, but once I heard the crowd, I was like: ‘OK,’” he said of his points total right before he set the record.
Chamberlain’s record had stood since 1963 and early in Thursday’s game, it looked like Gilgeous-Alexander might struggle to break it.
He did not score until halfway through the first quarter, but he had 10 points by the end of the period and 17 at halftime.
Photo: AFP
Chamberlain scored at least 20 points in 126 straight games from 1961 to 1963.
He had 20 points or more in every game of the 1961-1962 season for the Philadelphia Warriors, which included his record 100-point game in 1962.
Chamberlain’s streak ended on Jan. 20, 1963, when he was ejected after just four minutes for the San Francisco Warriors against the St Louis Hawks.
Photo: Gary A. Vasquez / Imagn Images
Elsewhere, Bulls guard Matas Buzelis started jawing at Doncic during their game, but the Lakers star turned it into fuel for his first 50-point game with LA.
Doncic turned what he called unprovoked trash talk from Buzelis into 51 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in their 142-130 victory.
“It always feels special,” Doncic said after his eighth career 50-point game. “I obviously haven’t had a 50-point game in a year, so it was very special. I mean, in the second quarter, I kind of felt it. You know, somebody started talking to me, so that woke me up.”
Doncic would not disclose what was said by Buzelis, a second-year forward, because: “I would say that I would definitely get a tech[nical foul].”
The NBA scoring leader got off to a strong start with 12 points in the first quarter and had another 12 in the second by making five of six shots from the field once Buzelis got garrulous.
Doncic ripped off 17 points in the third quarter before notching 10 points on just four field goal attempts in the fourth.
He finished 17 of 31 from the field, going nine of 14 from three-point range and eight for nine on free throws.
Lakers coach J.J. Redick described Doncic’s ability to direct the unsporting words or deeds of opponents into his own game as a “unique trait.”
“It’s not just the fact that he response to a rough play or trash talking, it’s that he can channel it, and he can channel it while still doing all the other things that needs to be done,” Redick said.
Buzelis was asked if learned any lessons from his exchange with Doncic.
“Probably not to talk to him,” Buzelis said.
Elsewhere on Thursday, it was:
‧ Spurs 131, Nuggets 136
‧ Pacers 108, Suns 123
‧ Pistons 131, 76ers 109
‧ Magic 136, Wizards 131 (OT)
‧ Heat 112, Bucks 105
‧ Hawks 108, Nets 97
‧ Grizzlies 112, Mavericks 120
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