Shai Gilgeous-Alexander eats up Nikola Jokic and Wilt Chamberlain at the buzzer

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a memorable performance in the victory of the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Denver Nuggets (129-126), a night where the reigning MVP not only decided the game with a game-winning three-pointer but also equaled one of Wilt Chamberlain's historic records. A great game by Nikola Jokic that ultimately meant nothing.

The Canadian guard scored 35 points and dished out 15 assists without committing any turnovers, in addition to grabbing nine rebounds, leading the reigning NBA champions in a direct showdown against Western contenders. However, beyond his statistical dominance, the game-changing action occurred in the final seconds.

With 3.3 seconds left on the clock and the score tied, Gilgeous-Alexander received the ball near the center court. After reading the defense, creating space with a step-back to his right, he launched a three-pointer over Spencer Jones's defense that cleanly went in to seal Oklahoma City's triumph.

The play sparked an uncommon celebration from the Thunder leader, who is usually more reserved. Following Aaron Gordon's desperate miss on the final possession, Gilgeous-Alexander traversed the Paycom Center court gesturing and celebrating with the local crowd.

The Canadian had previously hit another crucial three-pointer with 13.9 seconds remaining that seemed to seal the game, putting Oklahoma City four points ahead. However, Denver managed to tie immediately after in a play reviewed by the referees that ended with Jamal Murray sinking a free throw after a Nikola Jokic three-pointer and a prior foul called on Jaylin Williams.

That exchange set the stage for one of the most spectacular moments of Gilgeous-Alexander's career.

The guard finished the game with 14 made field goals out of 21 attempts and became the second player in NBA history to record at least 35 points and 15 assists without turnovers since turnovers began being officially counted in the 1977-78 season. The only other player to achieve this feat before was LeBron James on March 21, 2018, with the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Toronto Raptors.

Furthermore, the performance had another historical dimension. Gilgeous-Alexander reached his 126th consecutive game scoring at least 20 points, equaling the streak established by Wilt Chamberlain between 1961 and 1963.

The basket that allowed him to reach that mark came in the third quarter, with a step-back three from the top of the perimeter with 2:27 left.

Jokic himself, who recorded a triple-double of 32 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists, highlighted the difficulty of the achievement. According to the Serbian center, scoring 20 points for ten consecutive games is already challenging, making it truly special to do so in over 120 consecutive games.

Impact of Matching Wilt

Thunder's coach, Mark Daigneault, also emphasized the composure with which his star faces decisive moments. According to the coach, Gilgeous-Alexander maintains the same mindset regardless of the game situation.

The Canadian, on his part, acknowledged the historical significance of equaling a Chamberlain record, although he tries not to dwell too much on it during the season.

For Gilgeous-Alexander, engaging in conversation with a legend of that caliber is special, especially when considering where he was a decade ago and where he has reached now.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander se come a Nikola Jokic y Wilt Chamberlain sobre la bocina