Behind 35 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who set the NBA record with 127 consecutive 20-point games, the Oklahoma City Thunder weathered an early offensive surge from the Boston Celtics and tightened their defense in the second half before Chet Holmgren sealed a dramatic 104–102 victory with free throws in the final second.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Inside Paycom Center on Thursday night, the air carried a different kind of electricity. It wasn’t just the buzz of a marquee matchup between two contenders or the familiar roar that follows every big moment in Oklahoma City. There was anticipation layered into every possession, a quiet understanding among the thousands inside the arena that they might be watching history unfold.
And when the moment arrived, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander met it the same way he meets almost everything on a basketball court, with calm, precision, and a rhythm that makes the difficult look effortless.
Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 35 points to go along with 9 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 104-102 win over the Boston Celtics. But the final score was only part of the story.
