OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder celebrated their 50th win of the season on March 3, 2025, with a thrilling 137-128 victory over the Houston Rockets, powered by the exceptional performance of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 51 points.
Gilgeous-Alexander's dominating presence on the court was evident throughout the game, as he reached the 50-point mark for the fourth time this season, all within the last seven weeks. This latest achievement adds to his growing reputation as one of the league's top scorers. He demonstrated remarkable shooting accuracy, making 18 of his 30 field goals and hitting 5 of 9 attempts from beyond the arc. Notably, he ended the night flawless from the free throw line, successfully converting all 10 of his attempts.
Jalen Williams was another standout performer for the Thunder, adding 24 points to help secure the win (50-11 overall). The Rockets, on the other hand, fought valiantly but were hindered by the absence of key players, including Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Dillon Brooks, Fred VanVleet, and Tari Eason, all sidelined due to injuries.
Initially, the Rockets jumped out to their largest lead of nine points during the early moments of the second quarter, leading 31-30 at the end of the first and 63-62 at halftime. Gilgeous-Alexander, who had scored 28 points by halftime, sparked the Thunder's effort to rally, leading to the team's comeback.
After halftime, the Thunder continued to build momentum. By the end of the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander had driven the team's score to 102-89, showcasing his scoring prowess as he accumulated 45 points heading to the final period. Though the Rockets made efforts to close the gap, pulling within six points, the Thunder's aggressive play style helped re-establish their lead.
A defining moment of the game was when Lu Dort made back-to-back 3-pointers within 29 seconds, extending the Thunder's lead to 120-106. Gilgeous-Alexander sealed his historic night with a putback basket, marking his personal achievement of 50 points with just under three minutes left on the clock, giving the Thunder a 132-120 advantage.
"Shai is playing phenomenal basketball right now - we’re just riding his wave of confidence," said Jalen Williams, reflecting on the team's synergistic play and how they have leaned on Gilgeous-Alexander's current form.
For the Rockets, Cam Whitmore shone brightly, matching career highs with 27 points and 11 rebounds, alongside Reed Sheppard, who also delivered with a career-best 25 points. Nonetheless, the overall depth and experience of the Thunder proved too challenging for the Rockets to handle.
The scoring breakdown illustrated the energetic nature of both teams: the Rockets scored 31 points each in the first and second quarters, followed by 27 points in the third and closing with 39 points in the fourth, totaling 128 points. Meanwhile, the Thunder scored 30, 33, 39, and 35 throughout the four quarters, culminating with 137 points.
Looking forward, the Rockets will attempt to bounce back as they visit the Indiana Pacers on March 4, 2025, aiming to recover from this loss. On the other hand, the Thunder will head to Memphis on March 5, 2025, with hopes of continuing their winning streak and securing momentum as they argue for playoff positioning.