The league’s best kept secret is officially out. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not just an MVP candidate; he’s a late-game assassin forging one of the most dominant starts in modern NBA history.
Gilgeous-Alexander poured in a brilliant 40 points on Wednesday night, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a gritty 113-105 victory over the resilient Minnesota Timberwolves. The victory pushes the Thunder’s improbable win streak to double digits at 10 games and vaults their record to a staggering 18-1—the best 19-game start since the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors juggernaut.
For the first time in their blazing streak, the young Thunder were truly tested. Having blown out opponents by an average of 13 points during their run, OKC faced a full-fledged fight from a desperate Minnesota squad.
The game was decided in a chaotic final few minutes. After a Naz Reid corner three-pointer briefly gave the Timberwolves their first lead since the first quarter, and Anthony Edwards (who finished with 31 points) cut the deficit to a single point late, the Thunder’s poise shone through.
With the game hanging in the balance, it wasn’t just SGA. Rookie sensation Chet Holmgren delivered the knockout blow, drilling a clutch three-pointer off a drive and kick from Luguentz Dort to immediately push the lead back to four.
From there, the show belonged to the reigning Most Valuable Player. Gilgeous-Alexander, who was questionable to play due to an illness, locked down defensively, securing a critical rebound on the other end before sealing the game with three smooth free throws.
SGA’s 40-point explosion came efficiently (12-of-19 from the field, 15-of-17 from the free-throw line), highlighting his uncanny ability to generate points at the rim and the charity stripe.
Isaiah Hartenstein added 15 points and Ajay Mitchell chipped in 13 off the bench, providing the necessary depth to withstand Edwards’ fourth-quarter surge.
The Thunder now look to cap off a perfect group-stage run in the NBA Cup when they face Phoenix on Friday, riding the momentum of a historic start propelled by their superstar’s clutch heroics.