Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s monster sport on Monday evening in opposition to the Rockets confirmed why Oklahoma Metropolis is the favourite within the Western Convention.
The 2-time first-team All-NBA expertise scored 51 factors on 18-of-30 capturing within the Thunder’s 137-128 dwelling win.
With the victory, Oklahoma Metropolis improved to 50-11, turning into the primary Western Convention group to 50 wins this season. Gilgeous-Alexander has appeared in 60 of the group’s 61 video games and leads the league with 32.6 factors per sport.
He has an NBA-high 4 50-point video games, all since Jan. 22. Per Stathead, Gilgeous-Alexander is the league’s solely participant with a couple of 50-point sport this season.
The Thunder have run away with the West, and Monday’s win in opposition to the Rockets (37-24, fifth in Western Convention) confirmed why that would proceed within the playoffs.
Oklahoma Metropolis is the league’s finest defensive group, rating first in defensive score and second in factors allowed per sport (106.6). With Gilgeous-Alexander able to placing the Thunder on his again, they’ve an offensive playmaker who can commerce buckets when mandatory.
Per NBA.com data, Gilgeous-Alexander averages 1.07 factors per isolation play, sixth amongst 29 gamers with a minimum of three isolation performs per sport. He is fourth in factors per possession (1.1) because the pick-and-roll ball handler.
He displayed his full repertoire in opposition to the Rockets, effortlessly hitting fadeaway jumpers, pull-up threes and drives to the basket.
