Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a career-best performance with 45 points, 9 assists, and 5 steals, helping the Oklahoma City Thunder secure a 134-126 victory over the LA Clippers on Monday.
Despite the stellar stats, Gilgeous-Alexander downplayed the significance of his performance.
“It didn’t feel special,” he said about his 14th career 40-point game.
“It didn’t feel like I did something I’d never done before. Just felt like another basketball game. I felt like I should have had more, missed some easy shots, but [that’s] the game.”
Gilgeous-Alexander’s focus has been on preparing his young team for a deep play-off run, especially after last season’s second-round exit to the Dallas Mavericks, where they lost as the top seed in the Western Conference.
He added: “I don’t say this to slight my teammates. But I feel like the end of our season last year in the playoffs, I could have equipped them better throughout the year, especially offensively.
45 points for SGA tonight. New career high. pic.twitter.com/bByexLA9ui
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 12, 2024
“I feel like in the playoffs we were good defensively and offensively is why we lost. And part of my job is to make sure that my teammates are confident and are ready for big moments.”
Oklahoma City built a lead of up to 20 points, but the Clippers clawed back, narrowing the gap to just two points with 42 seconds left.
LA’s Norman Powell scored 29 of his 31 points in the second half, going 10-for-12 from the field, including 5-for-6 from beyond the arc.
But Gilgeous-Alexander steadied his team, scoring 10 points in the final minutes and sinking two free throws with 22 seconds left to halt the Clippers’ surge.
He became the first player in Thunder history to post at least 45 points and five steals.
