Historic Shai Gilgeous-Alexander feat speaks volumes about Thunder repeat chances

The Oklahoma City Thunder earned another much-needed win over the depleted Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night, 100-87.

It was a strong win. But given the Mavericks' current trajectory, it's hardly a surprising or highly symbolic one. What was important in that game, however, was the milestone that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reached, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's record for most straight road games with at least 20 points on the board.

Gilgeous-Alexander put up impressive numbers again in just his second game back from injury. In just over 33 minutes on the court, he posted 30 points, four rebounds, and five assists while shooting 12-of-20 from the floor.

Of course the history he made is impressive as well. It's not every day that Chamberlain is surpassed in anything.

But it's more what it means for the Thunder, in terms of their overall consistency and ability to win no matter the situation, that is significant at this point in the season.

Oklahoma City is the most consistent team in the league when healthy

Winning consistently on the road is one of the hardest things to do in the NBA, especially with the way travel schedules have shaped up in the modern era. To walk into an opposing building on any given night and maintain your cohesion on both ends of the court is a tremendous feat.

So far this season, Oklahoma City has done exactly that. Despite the rough stretch they've gone through over the past couple months, the Thunder still have the best road record in the NBA at 22-8.

This is an undeniable sign of their consistency as a team. Gilgeous-Alexander is perhaps the most efficient and reliable star in the NBA. As evidenced by his impressive road streak, he can be counted upon to deliver every single night, even if his shots aren't always falling at the high clip that's expected of him.

But the Thunder's recipe for success requires more than just consistent scoring from Gilgeous-Alexander. Oklahoma City also has the league's best defensive rating in road games, allowing just 107.8 points per 100 possessions.

These things directly translate to playoff success. In order to win four playoff series, you need to not only perform well on the road but maintain your identity night-in and night-out, no matter the circumstances. Both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder squad as a whole have undeniably demonstrated their ability to do so this season.

It speaks volumes about their chances at a championship repeat.