OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) 鈥� Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn鈥檛 just putting up MVP numbers 鈥� he鈥檚 posting historic ones.
The Canadian guard scored 50 points as the 140-109 on Wednesday night.
Gilgeous-Alexander became the ninth player in NBA history to score at least 50 points on three or more occasions in a seven-game span, according to the Thunder. The list includes Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor.
Gilgeous-Alexander brushed it off when asked what it meant to join those players.
鈥淭hose guys have done so many great things with the game,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so far off of that. Like, it鈥檚 cool, but I don鈥檛 think too much of it. The most important thing is to know I鈥檓 getting better through this process.鈥�
Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 54 points in a win over Utah on Jan. 22 and 52 three games later in a loss at Golden State. He called his success the byproduct of a bigger goal. The Thunder have the league鈥檚 best record at 40-9, and they want to win an NBA title after reaching the Western Conference semifinals last season.
鈥淪ome nights it鈥檚 going to look like this, some nights, it鈥檚 going to look like missed shots,鈥� he said. 鈥淪till playing through those (off shooting nights) and finding a way to win through those 鈥� that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 after. That鈥檚 what I鈥檓 chasing. That鈥檚 what fills my cup at night, just knowing that I got better and I am taking the right steps in the right direction to ultimately win basketball games at a very high level and hoist the trophy at the end of the season.鈥�
Gilgeous-Alexander accomplished the feat with a former Thunder star watching from the sideline. Phoenix鈥檚 Kevin Durant missed the game with a sprained left ankle. The man who won four scoring titles and an MVP award with the Thunder watched and listened as Oklahoma City's fans serenaded Gilgeous-Alexander with the 鈥淢VP鈥� chants once reserved for him.
Phoenix led 63-61 at halftime, despite Gilgeous-Alexander鈥檚 28 points. His steal and two-handed jam gave the Thunder an 81-65 lead with 6:21 left in the third quarter and forced a Phoenix timeout. He scored his 50th point on a baseline jumper early in the fourth quarter to give Oklahoma City a 114-84 lead.
Even with all he鈥檚 achieved 鈥� finishing second in the MVP race last season and leading the league in scoring so far this season 鈥� he believes he's just knocking on the door of elite consideration.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 get in those conversations, really, until you win,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 know that鈥檚 where I ultimately want to be when my career is said and done. Winning games, winning championships is at the front of my mind and it always will be. And after that, everything else will come and follow suit.鈥�
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AP NBA:
Cliff Brunt, The Associated Press
