Shai Gilgeous-Alexander kept the Thunder rolling Tuesday night, pouring in 42 points in a 124-116 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers and moving another step closer to Kevin Durant’s franchise mark.
The Oklahoma City star added five rebounds and eight assists while shooting 11-of-26 from the field, 5-of-11 from 3-point range and 15-of-19 at the line. It was his second straight 40-point game after he went for 43 against Cleveland in the previous meeting.
That kind of scoring burst keeps Gilgeous-Alexander climbing the Thunder record book. He continues to chip away at the all-time 40-point game totals held by Durant and Russell Westbrook, adding another milestone to an already loaded run in Oklahoma City.
He’s also part of a very small club this season. Only two players have posted 40-point games in back-to-back contests, with Luka Dončić doing it twice and Gilgeous-Alexander once.
The numbers behind Gilgeous-Alexander’s season are just as loud. He’s averaging 30.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.3 combined steals and blocks per game while shooting 45% from the floor, 36% from deep and 85% from the free-throw line. It’s the fifth straight season he’s averaged at least 30 points.
Oklahoma City did it without Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace, but the Thunder still found enough offense around their superstar. Ajay Mitchell gave them 23 points, while rookie Bennett Stirtz added a career-high 16.
The Thunder now turn to Friday’s matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies, looking to keep the momentum going.
In Other News...
Thunder Still Trusts Jared McCain Through A Brutal Shooting Slump
Jared McCain has been fighting through a rough shooting stretch, but the Thunder are not letting a cold hand overshadow the rest of his game. Oklahoma City picked up his fourth-year contract option, a sign of faith in a player whose value has gone well beyond the three-point line lately, even as the shots have stopped falling.
Head coach Mark Daigneault has pointed to McCains broader impact as the reason he keeps earning minutes, and the recent win over the Cleveland Cavaliers offered a reminder of why. McCain finished with seven points, nine rebounds and two assists, the kind of all-around line that helps explain why the Thunder are willing to stay patient while the jumper comes back. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Injuries Are Suddenly Putting Micah Peavy In The Spotlight
Injuries have forced the Thunder to lean on their depth more than they expected, with Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace and Jalen Williams all sidelined and the rotation suddenly looking a lot thinner. For a rookie like Micah Peavy, that kind of opening can change the tone of a season quickly, especially on a team that has made a habit of developing young talent and asking role players to be ready when their number is called.
Peavy has already shown he is paying attention to the veterans around him, and Alex Caruso is the obvious classroom on the floor for a young defender trying to earn trust. The Thunder also added Dalen Terry on a two-year deal, which completed the 15-man roster and gives the club more flexibility to use its two-way players, putting Peavy in a spot where the next stretch could mean a lot more than just practice reps. [Read more 🡒]
Thunders Dalen Terry Move Says Everything About OKCs Injury Problem
The Thunder have dipped into the market for another layer of depth, signing Dalen Terry to help cover for the injuries that have thinned out the roster. The 24-year-old guard-forward brings experience from time with multiple NBA teams, and his arrival gives Oklahoma City another body to work with as it tries to keep its rotation stable through a difficult stretch.
What makes the move notable is how little downside it carries for the Thunder. Terrys deal gives the team flexibility to keep him around if he fits, but it also leaves the front office with an easy exit if the roster gets healthier or a different need emerges. In a season shaped by absences, that kind of low-risk move says plenty about where Oklahoma City stands right now. [Read more 🡒]