Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 17 points in an Oklahoma City Thunder win over the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 22, 2026, halting his NBA record streak of consecutive 20-plus point games at 141, nba.com reported.
Streak Ends at 141 Games Against Denver
The streak began inconspicuously on Nov. 1, 2024, when Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points against the Portland Trail Blazers. Over the next 141 games, the output surpassed Wilt Chamberlain’s previous record. On Oct. 22, 2026, the run finished when Gilgeous-Alexander was held to 17 points on a night where he managed no field goals and just two points in the first half—his lowest first-half output since his first season in OKC in 2019.
With the Thunder comfortably ahead late in the game, Gilgeous-Alexander re-entered with just under seven minutes remaining and 7 points. Teammates fed him the ball, and he hit a 25-footer for his 17th point with 1:43 left on the clock. Rather than force more shots, Gilgeous-Alexander asked to be subbed out.
“He asked out at the end,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault told nba.com. “That was his substitution… of all the things I admire about him, that’s toward the top of the list. It shows tremendous class as a competitor.”
Thunder Open Season With Wins Over West Rivals
The Thunder opened the season with consecutive victories against two of the Western Conference’s top contenders, defeating Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs before beating Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets. OKC achieved a 2-0 start despite Jalen Williams ramping up from an injury-ravaged 2025-26 season and the departure of three key rotational players in offseason trades.
Oklahoma City’s rivalry with Denver dates back through recent postseasons. The Thunder defeated the Nuggets three times in four meetings following Denver’s 2023 championship, highlighted by a Game 7 victory in the 2025 conference semifinals en route to winning the NBA championship.
“I remember back when we were in the throes of rebuilding, they were champions,” Daigneault said to nba.com regarding the Nuggets. “So you had to be sharp against them on both ends in order to beat them. That raises the bar. It’s how you get better. You get better by competing against one of the best teams.”
Frontcourt Defense Neutralizes Star Centers
The Thunder utilized their frontcourt depth of 7-footers Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Aday Mara to limit opposing centers over the first two games. After holding Wembanyama to 1-for-13 shooting in the opener, OKC restricted Jokić to 5-for-19 shooting.
Final: Thunder 96, Nuggets 84Jalen Williams: 21 points and 5 reboundsChet Holmgren: 12 points and 17 reboundsShai Gilgeous-Alexander: 17 points and 3 assistsSGA's historic streak of 20-point performances ends at 141 regular-season games, but OKC gets the win and is now 2-0.
“When you have those bigs, there’s a lot you can do that others can’t do,” Nuggets coach David Adelman told nba.com.
Nuggets Search for Bench Production
Denver continues to evaluate its supporting cast around Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon. In the loss to Oklahoma City, Jokic and Murray shot a combined 7-for-30 from the field. While the Nuggets’ bench outscored OKC’s reserves 33-31, offseason addition DeMar DeRozan and Christian Braun and Cam Johnson face pressure to provide consistent secondary scoring.
“So many new faces,” Adelman told nba.com. “The identity will work itself out. We’re two different teams from last year to this year.” Braun and Johnson combined for 12 points in the loss.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Record
When did Gilgeous-Alexander’s 20-point streak begin?
The streak started on Nov. 1, 2024, when Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points against the Portland Trail Blazers in the fifth game of that season.
What record did Gilgeous-Alexander break during the streak?
Gilgeous-Alexander broke Wilt Chamberlain’s record for consecutive 20-point games before the streak ended at 141 games on Oct. 22, 2026.
How many points did Gilgeous-Alexander score in his final streak game?
He finished with 17 points against the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 22, 2026, after recording just two points in the first half.