The streak, which stood as an NBA record, had remained intact since October 30, 2024. Despite the opportunity to extend his run in the final minutes of the game, Gilgeous-Alexander chose to exit the floor when the Thunder held a comfortable 93-76 lead with 1:43 remaining. His decision to sub out, prompted by the Nuggets also rotating their lineup, was met with praise from head coach
A challenging start and a team-first finish
The evening proved difficult for the two-time reigning MVP from the opening tip. Gilgeous-Alexander struggled to find his rhythm early, missing all seven of his field-goal attempts during the first half. He managed to avoid a scoreless half only by converting a pair of free throws, a rare occurrence for the guard who has only gone without a field goal in a half four times in his 450 appearances for Oklahoma City.
The Thunder trailed by as many as nine points during the first half but began to find their momentum after the break. Gilgeous-Alexander opened the third quarter with a basket to narrow the deficit to 48-46. The team eventually surged ahead following a layup from Mitchell and consecutive three-pointers from Alex Caruso and Gilgeous-Alexander, establishing a 70-64 lead heading into the final frame.
Supporting performances and post-game reflections
While the scoring streak ended, the Thunder’s collective effort ensured a win. Jalen Williams led the team with 21 points, while Chet Holmgren contributed a double-double with 12 points and 17 rebounds. For the Nuggets, Aaron Gordon recorded 20 points, with Nikola Jokic and DeMar DeRozan adding 13 points each in their first game of the stretch.
Reflecting on the decision to leave the game, Gilgeous-Alexander emphasized that his choice was driven by the flow of the match rather than personal statistics. Coach Daigneault noted that while he had considered keeping his star on the court to preserve the streak, he ultimately admired the player's perspective. The coach highlighted the moment as a testament to the class and team-oriented mindset that defines his star player's approach to professional basketball.
