The Oklahoma City Thunder triumphed in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points to take home the victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards, who has led his team in the playoffs this year, scored just 18 points in a weak offensive display by the Timberwolves. With OKC taking Game 1, the Timberwolves must come up big in Game 2 to level the scores. But for now, fans and experts are focusing on Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring output and how he has joined an exclusive club of OKC Thunder players to have at least eight 30-point games in a single playoff run.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Nears Kevin Durant’s OKC Playoff Record
Gilgeous-Alexander has the most 30-point games in a single playoff run for the Oklahoma City Thunder since Kevin Durant in 2014. SGA has 8 30-point games in this year’s playoff run, while Durant had 11 30-point games in 2014.
Considering there are more games to go, the Thunder star stands a chance to beat KD’s record of 11 30-point games and make history if he continues at this rate. After losing the 2012 NBA Finals to the Miami Heat, the franchise is aiming to get back to the NBA Finals and to contend for its first championship.
Most 30+ point games in a playoff year – Seattle SuperSonics/@okcthunder franchise history (1967-68 to present):
11- Kevin Durant (2014)
9- Durant (2012)
8- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2025 via 31 in Tuesday’s 114-88 Gm1 win over the T-Wolves)
7- Gus Williams (1979)
7- Durant (2011) pic.twitter.com/udR4hayQ5M— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) May 21, 2025
OKC is being spearheaded by the guard who is averaging 29.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.6 assists with a free-throw percentage of 84.5% in this year’s playoffs. He had his highest-scoring game (38) in Game 4 against the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round.
Comparing this with Durant’s numbers in 2014, we see that the forward averaged 29.6 points, grabbed 8.9 rebounds, had 3.9 assists, and used his lengthy wingspan to get 1.3 blocks. However, Durant and Co. lost to the eventual champions, the San Antonio Spurs, after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Clippers.
SEE MORE: 2025 NBA Mock Draft — Shocking Lottery Results Shake Up Top of the First Round
SGA could take the Thunder to their first NBA title, a feat that OKC faltered in at the last hurdle in 2012. Gilgeous-Alexander’s chances of winning the MVP look more and more likely each passing day. He averaged 32.7 points during the regular season and broke the franchise record for the most 30-point games in a single season with 51 last year and 49 this year.
He also scored 30+ points in 40+ games over three consecutive seasons, a feat only Michael Jordan achieved in the league’s history. Fans have been thrilled by SGA’s record numbers and the scoring champion also averages 1.6 steals in the playoffs, doubling on players at crucial points and contesting shots to give the Thunder valuable defensive contributions.
