Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores career-high 42 points in thrilling win over Spurs

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 42 points on Wednesday night in a 102-99 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Lu Dort added 16 points of his own, including the game-winning shot at the buzzer:

Gilgeous-Alexander was dominant for the first three quarters, scoring 38 points before final stanza. His previous career high was 33 points.

“I wouldn’t have known how much I had if my teammates weren’t telling me,” Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters via Zoom after the game. “I was so locked into the game, honestly just trying to win. Big nights are huge, but personally if we didn’t win tonight I wouldn’t feel close to what I feel right now.”

His 42 points came efficiently, too. Gilgeous-Alexander made 13 of his 20 shots, including 6-of-11 from 3-point range. He also sunk 10-of-11 from the free throw line.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was quick to point out after the game that Gilgeous-Alexander got his points from within the flow of the offense.

“He probably could’ve tried to force it and get 50 tonight, and instead he took what the defense gave him all the way throughout the game,” Daigneault said.

Over his last three games, Gilgeous-Alexander is now averaging 34 points on just 16.67 shots per contest.

Oklahoma City’s next game is on Friday against the Hawks at the ‘Peake.