Shai Gilgeous-Alexander set a career high with 55 points on the night against the Pacers

ByNBAUSA


Shai Gilgeous-Alexander he’s done nothing but show why he’s the reigning MVP and Finals MVP to start the season for the reigning champions Oklahoma City Thunder. Gilgeous-Alexander is arguably the most unstoppable perimeter player in the league today, and he showed that when he put the Indiana Pacers in the mix in their NBA Finals rematch on Thursday night, which OKC won in double overtime141-135.

Opposing defenses have already had no answer for Gilgeous-Alexander in the past. But winning the title and all those individual accolades seems to have freed him to reach an even higher level of play. Against the Pacers, he scored a one career high scoring game with 55 points on 15-31 shooting from the field and 23-26 from the free throw line — leaving Indiana’s defense helpless at every turn.

If Gilgeous-Alexander can stay this dominant, he may be in for another MVP season. It is now unrealistic to expect him to score 50 or more every night. But if this Thunder team lifts it to another 65-win season while averaging over 33 points a contest? The case of the MFA it will be hard to argue against him.

Some fans, of course, won’t be too pleased that Gilgeous-Alexander is back to his free-throw hunting ways. He finished the night with almost as many free throw attempts as field goal attempts, so the Thunder star won’t be escaping the jeers of the free throw merchants anytime soon.

However, as the old saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Gilgeous-Alexander cuts defenders who can’t guard him, and as a result, gets to the foul line. And that leads to winning basketball for the Thunder anyway, so all opposing teams can do is hope they guard him more cleanly next time.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder to two straight 2OT wins to start season

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) dribbles the ball
© Trevor Ruszkovski-Imagn Images

The Thunder were without Jaylen Williams at the beginning of the season, and on Thursday against the Pacers they had to overcome the absences of Alex Caruso and Kaison Wallace. But Gilgeous-Alexander are at the top of their game – a one-man attacking team – as they have survived one haymaker after another from Pascal Siakam and Benedikt Maturin.

Gilgeous-Alexander was not alone, however. Ajay Mitchell made some big baskets in overtime and Aaron Wiggins made some big threes in the second OT. This OKC team is just too good and too deep that it’s hard to think of them as anything other than a title favorite.





2025-10-24 03:14:00

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