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Tim MacMahon
Multiple Authors
OKLAHOMA CITY — The legendary Wilt Chamberlain owns one less NBA record thanks to Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, broke a record held by Chamberlain for more than six decades by scoring at least 20 points in 127 consecutive regular-season games.
Gilgeous-Alexander reached the milestone in Thursday’s home game against the Boston Celtics, surpassing 20 points with a 20-foot jumper with 7:04 remaining in the third quarter, eliciting a roar from the Paycom Center crowd. He received a standing ovation and MVP chants during the next timeout when the historic moment was recognized on the videoboard.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak started on Nov. 1, 2024. He had averaged 32.5 points per game during the streak entering Friday night and is on pace to become the first player to average at least 30 points per game in four consecutive seasons since Michael Jordan.
“Human nature is that you have success and you ease a little bit,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said pregame. “He’s the opposite. He tastes it and wants more. He goes back for seconds.”
Chamberlain’s 126-game streak started on Oct. 19, 1961 — the season opener of the campaign that the Hall of Famer set NBA scoring records for a season (50.4 points per game) and game (100) that still stand today — and lasted through Jan. 19, 1963. The streak ended when Chamberlain was ejected from a game in the first quarter.
Chamberlain still holds records for the longest streaks of scoring 30 points (65 games), 40 points (14 games), 50 points (seven games) and 60 points (four games).
Chamberlain also scored 20 points in 92 straight games from Feb. 26, 1963, through March 18, 1964, which was the second-longest such streak in NBA history until Gilgeous-Alexander surpassed it.
No other NBA player has scored 20 points in 80 straight games. The next longest 20-point streak was 79 games by Oscar Robertston. Kevin Durant and Jordan each scored 20 in 72 straight gamest to tie for fifth on the list.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who was held under 20 points in three playoff games during Oklahoma City’s championship run last season, has finished with exactly 20 points only twice during his streak. Both of those occasions occurred during lopsided wins for the Thunder this season.
The second of those 20-point games, which happened in a Feb. 3 home win over the Orlando Magic, was the most serious threat to the streak. After sustaining an abdominal strain, Gilgeous-Alexander continued playing until he made a free throw to give him 20 points late in the third quarter. He subbed out after the next possession, when the Thunder led by 29 points with 1:48 remaining in the third, and missed the next nine games.
Oklahoma City’s record during Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak was 102-24 entering Friday’s game against the Celtics.