It looked like one of those rare off nights for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday against the New York Knicks, as he had just 20 points on 5-of-15 shooting through three quarters. But when the moment called for it, the Thunder star delivered yet again, taking over late to secure Oklahoma City’s 59th win of the season and further strengthen his MVP case.
What Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Enjoys Most About Clutch Time
Even after a slow start, Gilgeous-Alexander once again proved why he thrives in the biggest moments. When the game tightened in the final minutes, the Thunder star took over and made sure the spotlight stayed on him.
In the last 5 minutes of a close contest, the 27-year-old poured in 10 decisive points, attacking the rim, drawing fouls, and knocking down a dagger 3-pointer. He shot a perfect 3-of-3 in that stretch, helping Oklahoma City improve to 14-1 over its last 15 games.
Thunder beat writer Brandon Rahbar highlighted the significance of the performance, noting, “SGA has scored 30+ points for the 42nd time this season. That’s 10 points during clutch time for the Clutch Player of the Year leader.”
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After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t hesitate when asked what he enjoys most about clutch situations.
“It’s just winning time,” he said. “You play the whole 48 minutes to win a game. The final minutes are the minutes that you can have the biggest imprint, have the biggest moment and close the game out when clock is winding down. I’m just confident in my ability. Whether the ball is going in or out, I know I’ve worked hard enough to be on the right side of the makes and misses over the course of time.”
SGA COMES THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH!
10 PTS (3-3 FGM) in the final 5 minutes ⏰
OKC improves to 14-1 in their last 15 games 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Zm86wefSXf
— NBA (@NBA) March 30, 2026
He finished with 30 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists, shooting 8-of-18 from the field and 13-of-16 from the free-throw line, with a +13 rating. The performance extended his streak of 20-point games to 135, continuing a remarkable scoring run in a season where he is averaging 31.4 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 55.1% from the field and 37.9% from 3-point range.
Despite those numbers, he sits second in scoring behind Luka Dončić, who leads the league with 33.7 points per game. Gilgeous-Alexander is also currently second in the MVP race behind Victor Wembanyama, though performances like this continue to strengthen his case.
With the win, Oklahoma City improved to 59-16 and is now on the verge of a second straight 60-win season. The Thunder will look to keep rolling against the Detroit Pistons on the second night of a back-to-back, as Gilgeous-Alexander continues his push toward his second MVP honor.
