The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder are off to a historic begin within the 2025-26 NBA season, and far of the credit score goes to reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In a double-overtime thriller towards the Indiana Pacers on Thursday, SGA set a brand new profession excessive with 55 factors, surpassing his earlier better of 54 factors set final January towards the Utah Jazz. He additionally added eight rebounds, 5 assists, two steals, and a block in 45 minutes of play.
A serious spotlight of Gilgeous-Alexander’s efficiency was his mastery on the free-throw line. He ended the sport with 15-of-31 capturing with 23-of-26 free throws, a brand new profession excessive for each free throws made and tried in a single recreation.
These numbers contributed to a different report: SGA now holds the report for essentially the most free throws tried in a two-game span to start out a season, with 40 mixed makes an attempt over the Thunder’s first two video games, per Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints. This surpasses earlier benchmarks set by NBA legends like Bob Lanier and Wilt Chamberlain, who tried 38 free throws in the identical span.
In immediately’s NBA, drawing fouls and dwelling on the free-throw line is a precious talent, however it doesn’t at all times win followers over. Gilgeous-Alexander has mastered this craft to constantly put himself in scoring place. Regardless of being one of many league’s high skills, Gilgeous-Alexander typically faces criticism, steadily labeled a “free-throw service provider” on social media. Final season, he led the NBA with 601 free throws made, outpacing James Harden’s 505 and Trae Younger’s 491 by a large margin.
Oklahoma Metropolis has now performed double extra time in every of its first two video games, profitable each, a feat by no means earlier than completed in NBA historical past. The season opener noticed the Thunder defeat the Houston Rockets 125-124 in double OT, with SGA scoring 35 factors on 10-for-14 capturing from the sphere and 10-for-14 from the free-throw line over 47 minutes.
On Thursday, Oklahoma Metropolis beat the Pacers 141-135 in a rematch of final summer time’s NBA Finals, when the group gained its first championship since relocating from Seattle. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 9 factors within the second extra time to place the end result past doubt and have become the primary participant in franchise historical past to report 5 50-point video games, tying Russell Westbrook’s franchise mark. Enjoying 92 minutes in two video games, SGA has been unstoppable to start out the season.
Supporting solid performances have been additionally essential. Ajay Mitchell scored a career-high 26 factors, Aaron Wiggins added 23, and Chet Holmgren posted 15 factors and 12 rebounds. The Thunder collectively made 45 of 51 free throws, dominating a recreation that featured 70 private fouls and 91 complete free throws.
Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin led his group with 36 factors and 11 rebounds, whereas Pascal Siakam contributed 32 factors and 15 rebounds. The Pacers have been lacking Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner, and misplaced Andrew Nembhard to a shoulder damage within the second quarter.
After a day of relaxation, the Thunder will hit the highway, dealing with the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, adopted by a matchup towards the Dallas Mavericks on Monday earlier than returning dwelling.