Sun Feb 02 06:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Thunder Star’s 52-Point Performance Overshadowed by Loss to Warriors
**San Francisco, CA** – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 52 points, his second 50-point game in four games, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Western Conference leaders fell to the Golden State Warriors 116-109 Wednesday night, a defeat that left Gilgeous-Alexander visibly disappointed despite his impressive individual performance.
“It sucks,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated post-game. “Winning comes first and foremost, and if I don’t win, I am not satisfied.” He acknowledged that his high point total might not have been in the team’s best interest given the overall outcome.
This marks the first time this season a player has achieved multiple 50-point games, and Gilgeous-Alexander joins an elite group of Thunder players – Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook – to accomplish this feat within a single season. He shot 16-of-29 from the field and a career-high 18-of-21 from the free-throw line.
Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins praised Gilgeous-Alexander’s skill, commenting, “He’s cold. He’s tough. He can score at all three levels.”
While Gilgeous-Alexander propelled the Thunder to a 14-point lead in the first quarter with 21 points, the team struggled offensively in the later quarters, managing only 75 points on 37.3% shooting. Other Thunder players, including Jalen Williams who scored 26 points, admitted to being momentarily distracted by Gilgeous-Alexander’s dominant performance. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault acknowledged this tendency but emphasized the team’s need to maintain its identity regardless of Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring output.
Despite attempts by Warriors coach Steve Kerr to keep Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench in the final quarter, Thunder coach Daigneault brought him back in to try to rally the team, though it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
Gilgeous-Alexander expressed his disappointment and stated his intention to review the game film to identify areas for improvement, reiterating his focus on winning above individual statistics. The loss drops the Thunder to 37-9 on the season.
First Piper 