Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s performance vs. Rockets shows why Thunder should be West favorites

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s monster game on Monday night against the Rockets showed why Oklahoma City is the favorite in the Western Conference.

The two-time first-team All-NBA talent scored 51 points on 18-of-30 shooting in the Thunder’s 137-128 home win.

With the victory, Oklahoma City improved to 50-11, becoming the first Western Conference team to 50 wins this season. Gilgeous-Alexander has appeared in 60 of the team’s 61 games and leads the league with 32.6 points per game. 

He has an NBA-high four 50-point games, all since Jan. 22. Per Stathead, Gilgeous-Alexander is the league’s only player with more than one 50-point game this season.

The Thunder have run away with the West, and Monday’s win against the Rockets (37-24, fifth in Western Conference) showed why that could continue in the playoffs.

Oklahoma City is the league’s best defensive team, ranking first in defensive rating and second in points allowed per game (106.6). With Gilgeous-Alexander capable of putting the Thunder on his back, they have an offensive playmaker who can trade buckets when necessary.

Per NBA.com data, Gilgeous-Alexander averages 1.07 points per isolation play, sixth among 29 players with at least three isolation plays per game. He’s fourth in points per possession (1.1) as the pick-and-roll ball handler.

He displayed his full repertoire against the Rockets, effortlessly hitting fadeaway jumpers, pull-up threes and drives to the basket.

The Thunder are well on their way to earning the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs for the second season in a row. After falling in the second round last year, Gilgeous-Alexander should have Oklahoma City confident it won’t repeat that mistake.

Gilgeous-Alexander looks like a man on a mission. No one has gotten in his way yet, and that’s appearing less and less likely to change.