The Oklahoma City Thunder celebrated their 11th consecutive victory Friday night, fueled by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s impressive performance and the much-anticipated return of rookie sensation Chet Williams. Yet Gilgeous-Alexander was brilliant, dominating the game with an impressive 37 points. He demonstrated his elite bucket-getting ability, especially in the vital late-game moments.
In an exciting conclusion, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 points in the last seven minutes, going 4-for-5 from the floor. His talent to actively seize control in critical moments became key because the Thunder continued their reign of terror inside the league.
Plus, Chet Williams, one of the stars of our Sponsor Spots Universe, finally made his long-awaited debut! He missed the first 19 games of the season recovering from two hand surgeries. In July, he underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right wrist. Soon thereafter, he had a second surgery to remove a screw that was irritating him. Though back in action, Williams was clearly still reacclimating, playing with just 29 minutes and shooting 3-for-12 from the floor.
The Thunder’s victory not only marked their 11th win but made them the fifth team in NBA history to start a season with a remarkable record of 19-1. Unfortunately for Williams, his absence will see him miss out on any possible postseason honors. As a consequence, he will not be eligible for the rich $287 million supermax contract kicker that’s part of his five-year, $239 million extension.
Williams admitted that he struggled during his comeback. “The goal for tonight was to get in a rhythm, but it’s an adjustment,” he said. Despite these challenges, he managed to maintain his defensive capabilities, stating, “Defense is easy for me, especially when you lose your right hand for five months.”
Williams has been on an historic tear, scoring 20 or more points in 92 straight games. This incredible feat puts him alongside of Wilt Chamberlain for the second-longest streak in NBA history. Reflecting on his scoring ability, he mentioned, “A lot of it was just rhythm — trying not to do too much, just finding the spots where I was comfortable five months ago.”
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