In just a little over three weeks, Oklahoma City Thunder superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has already racked up three 50-point games. Something akin to what Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks has accomplished before.
The former Kentucky Wildcats star dropped 54 points in a 123-114 win over the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Jan. 22. Then he exploded for 52 points on Jan. 29 during a 116-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors on the road.
On Wednesday, Gilgeous-Alexander hammered the Phoenix Suns for 50 points on 18-for-29 shooting from the floor, this time in a win, 140-109, at home. Making his performance against the Suns even more impressive was the fact that he buried all those buckets in just 34 minutes. That seems to be the trend when Gilgeous-Alexander is going off. In the Utah game, he saw action for just 37 minutes and 39 minutes versus the Warriors.
According to OptaSTATS, that is an NBA record for the shortest span a player has collected at least three 50-point, under-40-minute games.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander within the last 15 days:
54 points in 37:28 vs. Utah
52 points in 39:06 at Golden State
50 points in 34:15 vs. Phoenix
No one else in NBA history has scored 50+ points while playing under 40 minutes 3 times in a span of 30 days or less (let alone 15).
Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander breaks Giannis Antetokounmpo’s NBA record
Previously, the record was held by Milwaukee Bucks superstar and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The next-shortest span for a player to score 50+ points in under 40 minutes 3 times is 31 days by Giannis Antetokounmpo from January 3 to February 2, 2023.
Gilgeous-Alexander is indeed having a spectacular season, making him one of the top contenders for the 2025 NBA MVP. The same can also be said about Antetokounmpo, who will face off against the Thunder again on Mar. 16 at home.
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