March 1, 2026 Revised on March 2, 2026, at 4:09 p.m. CT
In his second game after recovering from an abdominal strain, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander netted 30 points, guiding the Thunder to a 100-87 victory against the Mavericks.
Gilgeous-Alexander Shines Again
Chet Holmgren played a key role in the win, scoring 19 points along with nine rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.
Jared McCain and Isaiah Joe made significant contributions off the bench, scoring 11 and 14 points, respectively.
Gilgeous-Alexander has set a new NBA record by achieving at least 20 points in 59 consecutive road games.
Chet Holmgren’s Impact
DALLAS — A scowling Shai Gilgeous-Alexander marched over to the bench on Sunday evening.
Alex Caruso extended his hand for a high-five, but he was met with nothing. Instead, he collided fists with Gilgeous-Alexander, who had both hands tightly clenched. The star guard was still energized after slamming the ball through the hoop on a drive during the second quarter of the Thunder’s 100-87 victory over the Mavericks.
There was no signature pull-up jumper from the mid-range. No opting for a conventional layup against his defender, Max Christie. Just a breathtaking performance that even astonished the crowd at the American Airlines Center.
Bench Contributions Key to Victory
Although Gilgeous-Alexander claims he didn’t aim to send a message with his dunk, he certainly accomplished that. Having recently sat out nine games over a span of 22 days due to an abdominal injury, the reigning MVP is ready to take off without any further delays.
He is ready for departure.
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Record-Breaking Performance
"I intensified my training sessions leading up to the games once I knew I was returning," remarked Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 30 points and dished out five assists against the Mavericks in his second game back. "The teammates who assisted me in my workouts did an excellent job of simulating game conditions, so I feel quite good. Particularly in terms of cardio, I don't feel like I lost any ground. … I definitely have more spring in my legs now compared to before the injury, thanks to the time I had off."
Gilgeous-Alexander has achieved a remarkable feat by scoring at least 20 points in 59 consecutive road games, setting a new NBA record. His total of 123 games with 20 or more points places him second only to Wilt Chamberlain, who holds the record with 126 games.
The Thunder (47-15) has secured victories in five out of their last six matchups.
Here are three key insights from the victory:
Chet Holmgren proved to be an exasperating powerhouse on the court.
After being knocked down by Chet Holmgren, Dwight Powell quickly got back on his feet as Holmgren sped past him on the outside and completed a layup in the middle of the first quarter.
The seasoned center seemed to be in good shape, though his pride seemed somewhat hurt. When Holmgren hit an 18-footer over him on the Thunder’s subsequent possession, it only added to his internal turmoil. Powell expressed his displeasure to the referees while moving up the court and was promptly assessed a technical foul.
∎ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has achieved a remarkable feat by scoring at least 20 points in 123 straight games. This accomplishment places him second in NBA history, just behind Wilt Chamberlain, who holds the record with 126 games.
∎ Gilgeous-Alexander has achieved a remarkable feat by scoring at least 20 points in 59 straight road games, marking the longest such streak in the history of the NBA.
∎ The Thunder were missing Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain and left ankle sprain), Thomas Sorber (recovering from right ACL surgery), and Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain).
∎ The Mavericks faced the Thunder without several key players: Marvin Bagley III (neck sprain), Cooper Flagg (left midfoot sprain), Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery), Miles Kelly (not with the team), Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery), Naji Marshall (right finger contusion), and P.J. Washington (left ankle sprain).
Justin Martinez reports on the Thunder and the NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story suggestion for Justin? You can contact him at [email protected] or on X/Twitter using @Justintohoops. Subscribe to the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter for more NBA insights. Support Justin and other journalists at The Oklahoman by getting a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
Mavericks facing off against Thunder
TIPOFF: 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the United Center in Chicago (FanDuel Sports Network)
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