I guess we no longer have to wonder what an MVP candidate would do against a glorified G League roster. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander answered that question with 51 points against the short-handed Houston Rockets.
The Oklahoma City Thunder cruised to a 137-128 win over the Rockets on Monday. After scoring zero in his first six seasons, Gilgeous-Alexander tallied his fourth 50-point outburst in the last two months alone. Sounds like MVP stuff.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 51 points on 18-of-30 shooting, seven assists and five rebounds. He shot 5-of-9 from 3 and went 10-of-10 at the free-throw line.
A 50-burger is always the headliner on any given NBA night. All eyes were on Gilgeous-Alexander as the Rockets’ decision to lay down in defeat before the game even tipped off set the stage for the 26-year-old.
Let’s look at what X, formerly known as Twitter, said about Gilgeous-Alexander’s 51 points against the Rockets: