The NBA put a massive spotlight on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday, posting that it has been more than 500 days since the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar scored fewer than 20 points in a regular-season game. The league added that Gilgeous-Alexander just passed Wilt Chamberlain for the longest 20-point streak in NBA history at 127 straight regular-season games.
That is why Sunday’s nationally televised matchup matters beyond one March game. Oklahoma City enters the contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 52-15, on a seven-game winning streak, while ESPN lists the Thunder as seeking their eighth straight win in a 1 p.m. ET tip at Paycom Center on ABC.
Key Points
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The NBA said it has been 500-plus days since Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored under 20 in a regular-season game.
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Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak reached 127 straight games, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s previous record of 126.
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Thunder-Timberwolves tips off Sunday, March 15, at 1 p.m. ET on ABC.
The OKC superstar has achieved a lot since then, including passing Wilt Chamberlain for the longest 20+ point streak in NBA history last time out (127 straight games).
Today,
It’s Been 500+ Days Since Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Scored Fewer Than 20 Points, According to the NBA
The NBA’s post is attention-grabbing, but the number checks out. StatMuse lists Gilgeous-Alexander’s last regular-season game under 20 points as October 30, 2024, when he scored 18 against the San Antonio Spurs. From that date to March 15, 2026, that is 501 days.
What makes the streak more notable is the company he passed. NBA.com documented that Gilgeous-Alexander moved beyond Chamberlain’s 126-game run by reaching 20 points in Thursday’s win over the Boston Celtics, giving him 127 straight regular-season games with 20 or more.
This is not just a hot streak. It is now the longest such streak the league has ever recorded in the regular season.
How to Watch Thunder vs. Timberwolves
ESPN’s game page lists Thunder vs. Timberwolves for Sunday, March 15, at 1 p.m. ET from Oklahoma City, with ABC carrying the national broadcast. ESPN’s streaming listing also shows the game live under “ESPN on ABC/ESPN Unlimited.”
There is also a standings angle here. ESPN shows Oklahoma City first in the West at 52-15 and Minnesota sixth at 41-26, with the Thunder already 28-6 at home. ESPN’s matchup page also shows Minnesota leading the season series 2-1.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Stats
Entering Sunday, ESPN lists Gilgeous-Alexander as Oklahoma City’s season leader at 31.8 points and 6.6 assists per game while shooting 55.4% from the field and 89.5% from the free-throw line.
Those numbers matter in this spot because Minnesota is still one of the few teams to give Oklahoma City problems this season. That makes Sunday a clean “why today?” checkpoint: another national-TV stage, another chance to extend the record, and another opportunity to strengthen his MVP case against a playoff-caliber opponent.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander MVP Odds
The betting market has tilted hard toward Gilgeous-Alexander. Search results from DraftKings list him at –800 to win NBA MVP, with Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama both listed at +1500 behind him. Fox Sports also recently showed Gilgeous-Alexander as the clear MVP favorite.
That is the bigger takeaway ahead of Thunder vs. Timberwolves: the NBA’s social post was not just celebrating a stat. It amplified a season that has already become historic, and Sunday gives Gilgeous-Alexander another nationally televised window to add to it.
NBA Makes Major SGA Announcement Ahead of Thunder vs. Timberwolves