OKLAHOMA CITY
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ended his NBA-record streak of 141 consecutive games with at least 20 points Thursday night, scoring 17 in the Thunder's 96-84 home win over the Denver Nuggets.
With 1:43 left and Oklahoma City holding a 93-76 lead, Gilgeous-Alexander asked coach Mark Daigneault to remove him from the game. He needed just three more points to extend the historic run that dated to Oct. 30, 2024.
"I was going to go out there, and then I saw that they had subbed, so I thought we should sub, too," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "You always treat the game with respect."
Daigneault initially wanted him to stay in the game but praised the decision afterward.
"I just think of the class that it shows and the perspective that it shows for him to say, 'Hey, I'm out now. The game's calling for me to be subbed out,'" Daigneault said. "That was his substitution. And of all the things that I admire about him, that's toward the top of the list."
Gilgeous-Alexander struggled from the field, shooting 6 of 19. He missed all seven attempts in the first half, scoring only on a pair of free throws. It was only the fourth scoreless half in 450 games with Oklahoma City for Gilgeous-Alexander, whose last came during his 2019 rookie season with the LA Clippers.
The Thunder trailed by as many as nine points before rallying in the second half. Gilgeous-Alexander's three-pointer with 1:44 remaining extended the lead to 93-76.
Jalen Williams led Oklahoma City with 21 points. Chet Holmgren added 12 points and 17 rebounds.
Aaron Gordon led Denver with 20 points. Nikola Jokic and DeMar DeRozan each scored 13.
