SGA tallies 4th 50-point game of season in win over Rockets

A 51-point night from MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander propelled the Oklahoma City Thunder past the Houston Rockets, 137-128, on Monday.

This was Gilgeous-Alexander's fourth contest with 50-plus this season; no other player in the league has reached that plateau more than once. He's the 27th player to post a quartet of 50-point games in one campaign and the first since Luka Doncic in 2022-23. All four have come since Jan 22.

"You play the game to win," Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame. "You don't play the game to score a bunch of points ... You don't play for anything besides to win, and that's what it's all about.

"Obviously, the stats and the individual stuff puts you in another stratosphere, but to get over that hump into be(ing) regarded as one of the better players to ever play you have to win. Because if you don't win then it's all for nothing ... Winning is the be all, end all for me."

Gilgeous-Alexander has finished with at least 40 points a league-leading nine times in 2024-25, and he continues to impress his teammates.

"You look up, you see the third quarter, he's got 40 already. You're not even surprised," Thunder big man Chet Holmgren said, adding, "No glaze, but he tough."

Jalen Williams poured in 24 points, while Gilgeous-Alexander's fellow Canadian, Luguentz Dort, hit back-to-back triples in the fourth quarter to put the game to bed.

Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard had a breakout game, scoring a career-high 25 points to go along with five assists.

Houston was missing five of its most prominent players, as Dillon Brooks (knee), Fred VanVleet (ankle), Tari Eason (leg), Alperen Sengun (back), and Amen Thompson (shoulder) were all absent.

Oklahoma City improved to 50-11, tying the Cleveland Cavaliers for most wins in the Association.

The Rockets dropped to 37-24 with the loss.