The OKC Thunder have picked up right where they left off post All-Star break, as they've now strung together six wins in seven games played and are currently amid a four-game win streak.
Their latest triumph came Monday in a hard-fought bout against the Rockets.
Despite being plagued by a bevy of injuries, Houston gave the top seeds a run for their money behind career nights from Cam Whitmore (27 points) and Reed Shepard (25 points).
Fortunately for Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gave them a much-needed offensive boost with his 51 points on the night, ultimately spearheading the charge in the club's 137-128 win.
With this scoring feat, the Thunder star has now registered 50 or more points scored on four separate occasions over the last seven weeks of action. Not only is this an impressive stretch run on the surface, but when looking at it from a historical lens, it actually further demonstrates just how dominant the guard has been throughout this span.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sets NBA record for first four 50+ point games
Despite having averaged an awe-inspiring 30.7 points per night during the two seasons coming into 2024-25, the Thunder centerpiece surprisingly found himself with zero 50-point games under his belt.
Since Oklahoma City's January 22 blowout victory over the Utah Jazz (where he dropped a career-high 54 points), however, Gilgeous-Alexander has seen four of such outings, which, in turn, now sets the record for the fewest games in NBA history for a player to record their first four 50-plus point games at just 19.
The previous record of 44 was set by Dominique Wilkins back in February of 1987, roughly 38 years ago.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on an all-time run 🔥
— Underdog (@UnderdogFantasy) March 4, 2025
SGA had ZERO 50 point games in his career until January 22nd, 2025. He now has FOUR in his last 19 outings 🚀 pic.twitter.com/2E6o6YQYzI
Throughout this nearly two-month stretch, there have only been a total of six games where an individual player has registered 50 or more points. Not including SGA, the rest of the league has been responsible for two of them.
Already seen as the favorite to be crowned the NBA's Most Valuable Player by year's end, this latest historical accomplishment only strengthens his claim for the coveted award.
Through 60 games played, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finds himself dropping sensational all-around averages of 32.6 points, 6.2 assists, 5.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks while shooting 52.5 percent from the floor and 37.4 percent from distance.
Behind his dominance, the Thunder have now set the franchise record for the fewest games played to accumulate 50 wins at 61. The previous mark was 64 set back in 1995-96 when they (then the Seattle SuperSonics) advanced to the NBA Finals.
Might a similar run be on the horizon for Oklahoma City?
Should Gilgeous-Alexander continue to play at this type of level, the odds only appear to be in their favor.