Shai Gilgeous-Alexander passes Westbrook with huge OKC playoff feat, trails only Durant
Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images Oklahoma City needed a response after dropping Game 1, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered when the Thunder returned home. OKC levelled the series at 1-1 with a 122-113 win over the Spurs last Wednesday night, regaining momentum before the matchup shifted. Gilgeous-Alexander led the game with 30 points and added nine assists, turning a strong team recovery into another personal Thunder milestone.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander moves past Russell Westbrook in OKC history Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images According to ESPN, Gilgeous-Alexander now has 27 career 30-point playoff games for Oklahoma City, moving him into second place in franchise history. That pushed him past Russell Westbrook, and left only Kevin Durant ahead with 39 such games for the franchise. The achievement matters because Westbrook remains one of OKC’s defining icons, carrying the team after Durant’s departure and winning MVP in Thunder colours.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring was not just historic. It was necessary, with the Spurs threatening late before OKC finished the job and levelled the series. Stephon Castle is still making SGA work hard The milestone does not mean the series has been easy.
Stephon Castle has given Gilgeous-Alexander one of the toughest defensive matchups of this playoff run. ESPN reports that, with Castle as his primary defender, Gilgeous-Alexander is 10-for-19 from the field for 24 points through the series so far. Those numbers are efficient, but they show how much attention San Antonio is placing on every possession he controls.
That makes Game 2 even more important. The Canadian guard passed Westbrook while solving a defender built to slow him down. Read more: Nick Wright explains why Spurs’ Game 2 loss boosts Knicks’ 2026 NBA Championship hopes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander admits shutting up one Thunder star for constant distraction in Game 2 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander downplays Thunder star’s defense despite holding Victor Wembanyama to 21 points