Image Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins elite company with his third 50- point game in Thunder’s win over Suns

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging at 32.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game across 48 fixtures this season.

Image Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their dominance and thrashed the Phoenix Suns with a 140-109 blowout win on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Thunder, who were coming on the back of a solid 125-96 win over the Bucks recorded their third straight and 40th overall victory in the ongoing season.

It was yet another game where MVP front-runner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the side with his remarkable 50 point performance. The three-time NBA All-Star played for 34 minutes and finished with eight rebounds and five assists to put on an entertaining show for the crowd at Paycom Center in Oklahoma.

With this, Shai joined the likes of NBA legends and became the only ninth player in the league to score at least 50 points thrice within a span of seven games. The other players to do so were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, Luka Doncic, James Harden, Michael Jordan and Damian Lillard.

Shai’s first 50-point performance came during the Thunder’s 123-114 win over the Jazz on Jan 22., where he scored his career-high while finishing with 54 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

He once again crossed the 50-point mark, by scoring 52 points, four assists and three rebounds during the 116-109 loss against the Warriors on Jan. 29.

On Wednesday, SGA also had his eighth 40-point game for the season. The Toronto-born point guard is currently averaging at 32.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game across 48 fixtures he played for the side.

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The Game

While Shai finished the night with 50 points for the Thunder, Aaron Wiggins added 17 points, Jalen Williams finished with 13 and Isaiah Joe had 12 points.

On the Suns side, Bradley Beal scored 25 points, while Devin Booker had 19 points and Royce O’Neale had 18 points, five rebounds and one assist.

The Thunder dominated the game with a 37-33 lead in the first quarter, owing to SGA’s 13 points. On the other hand, Beal had scored 9 points for the Suns. In the second quarter, Shai had five of 13 field goals and had 28 points at halftime.

SGA just keeps pouring it on 🌧️🌧️

He's got 8 of OKC's first 20 in the 3Q and the Thunder are on a 20-2 run 👀 pic.twitter.com/h759FkXBVR
— NBA (@NBA) February 6, 2025

He then went on to set a new record for the franchise with 46 points at the end of the third quarter, which took the side to 104-79. The lead further got extended to 140-109 as the Western Conference table toppers clinched another win.

“Just making sure that I’m getting better”- Shai Gilgeous Alexander on third 50-point performance

After the game, Shai reflected on his performance and said that his only focus is to make sure that he is getting better.

He told reporters, “I feel like I’m getting better. Most importantly, skill wise, mentality wise. Sharpening my blade, sharpening my tools, so whether they go in or not, just making sure that I’m getting better is the most important thing.”

Oklahoma City Thunder

Phoenix Suns

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.