Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, to lift the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 116-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at home Sunday.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s late surge extended his record streak of 20-point to 128 consecutive. He broke Wilt Chamberlain’s previous record of consecutive 20-point games in Thursday’s victory over the Boston Celtics.
Chet Holmgren added 21 points, Isaiah Joe finished with 20, Alex Caruso added 17 and Isiah Hartenstein finished with 12 rebounds as Oklahoma City extended its winning streak to eight games.
Julius Randle scored 32 points for the Timberwolves, while Anthony Edwards scored 19 on 6-of-17 shooting. Ayo Dosunmu had 18 points off the bench for Minnesota, which lost for the fourth time in five games in a downturn that has come after an 8-1 stretch.
Gilgeous-Alexander moved within three points of extending the record on a pull-up 3-pointer that extended the Thunder lead to 111-96 with 3:17 remaining.
With 1:46 remaining, Gilgeous-Alexander drove along the baseline and made a fadeaway as he was fouled by Anthony Edwards. His three-point play put Oklahoma City up 114-98 and effectively sealed the victory.
Gilgeous-Alexander was 7 of 22 (31.8%) from the floor in his worst shooting game of the season but went 4 of 6 in the fourth quarter. He added 10 assists.
The reigning NBA MVP struggled from the outset, going 2 of 9 in the opening quarter. The last time he was held under 20 points in a regular-season game was Oct. 30, 2024, when he had 18 against the San Antonio Spurs.
With Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench for rest to start the fourth quarter, Oklahoma City took control while on a 17-8 run to start the period with the help of a pair of 3-pointers from Jared McCain.
Oklahoma City had to rally from a nine-point deficit midway through the third quarter, going on a 21-8 run to head into the fourth with am 80-76 advantage.
Oklahoma City scored nine consecutive points late in the third quarter, getting a Jaylin Williams’ 3-pointer off a feed from Gilgeous-Alexander for a 78-73 advantage late in the period. The assist was one of five for Gilgeous-Alexander in the third.
–Field Level Media
