Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stands alone in the fight for the MVP
The season he is having, combined with that of his team, leaves no doubts regarding the award unless an unexpected final collapse occurs
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made it clear why he is the undisputed favorite for the MVP by delivering a historical performance with 54 points, his career-high, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 123-114 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.
Gilgeous-Alexander had a spectacular night, hitting 17 of his 35 field goal attempts and 17 of 18 free throws, surpassing his previous personal best of 45 points. Additionally, he contributed eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals. "It's always fun to achieve personal records; it's always exciting to check things off your list," Shai commented after the game. "And having the city's support behind you is something special, no doubt."
With his feat, Gilgeous-Alexander became the first Thunder player to score 50 points since Russell Westbrook achieved the same feat in 2017 against the Nuggets, according to ESPN Research. He is also only the fourth player in franchise history to record at least 50 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a game, joining Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and Ray Allen.
From the start of the game, Shai left his mark. He scored 23 points in the first half, leading the Thunder to a slight 57-55 advantage at halftime. In the third quarter, he added another 18 points, increasing his team's lead to 95-89. In the final quarter, after a brief rest, he returned to the court with the score at 102-99 and sealed the game with a three-pointer that made it 115-106, securing his historic night. He reached the 50-point mark with a jump shot over Lauri Markkanen with 1:28 remaining, leaving the score at 119-110.
Although satisfied, Shai was critical of his own performance. "I feel like I could have done a lot more, and I know that sounds very pretentious," he admitted. "I don't think I had a great night; I left points on the table, but that means there's room for improvement, and that's a positive thing."
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