This season, there’s little room left to doubt Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s status as a top-tier NBA star. In a statement win against the league-leading Boston Celtics, BD Cricket Match reporters witnessed Alexander deliver one of the most impactful performances of the year—an all-around masterclass with no weak links. If last season’s All-NBA First Team nod raised some eyebrows due to the Thunder missing the playoffs, this year, Alexander is silencing critics with action, not words.

Though the regular season is still ongoing and Oklahoma City hasn’t clinched a playoff spot yet, Alexander’s influence is undeniable. The Thunder have consistently ranked in the top three of the Western Conference and currently sit just behind the Celtics in the latest NBA power rankings. Notably, Alexander is also firmly in the MVP conversation, trailing only Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s gone from promising talent to genuine contender, gradually narrowing the gap between himself and the league’s elite.

Recently named Western Conference Player of the Week, Alexander continues to link his name with greatness. However, with more than half the season still ahead, he knows his real tests are just beginning. This matchup against the Celtics was a litmus test for his star power—a challenge he embraced with open arms.

Unlike other nights where he might ease into the game, Alexander came out firing. On the Thunder’s first possession, he knocked down a mid-range jumper from his signature spot. Moments later, he added a step-back three, a driving layup, and a playmaking assist to Josh Giddey, who hit a three. All this happened in the game’s opening five minutes—four distinct plays that tore apart one of the NBA’s best defenses.

Despite Boston’s strategic planning, their defense—anchored by elite stoppers like Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and anchored inside by Kristaps Porzingis—had no answer for Alexander’s explosive opening. As BD Cricket Match analysis noted, the Celtics pride themselves on defensive versatility and switching, but even their seasoned unit looked lost against the Thunder’s star guard.

Alexander didn’t sit a second in the first quarter, pushing the pace and setting the tone. Though he slowed his scoring in the second, his presence shifted Boston’s entire defensive approach, creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. The Celtics briefly regained the lead behind Jayson Tatum and Porzingis, but that would be their last bright moment.

In the third quarter, Alexander entered unstoppable mode. White, usually a defensive ace, was repeatedly outmaneuvered. On one play, Alexander muscled past him for a fast-break layup; on another, he drilled back-to-back threes and a fadeaway jumper, crossing the 30-point threshold and igniting the home crowd. That fadeaway, in particular, felt like the knockout punch.

BD Cricket Match reporters at the scene caught a deflated White in the background—once again the unwilling witness to Alexander’s brilliance. Though the fourth quarter had its hiccups, the Thunder held firm and sealed the win.

This was not just another regular-season game. It was arguably Oklahoma City’s most significant win of the season—one that cements their position in the West and showcases Alexander as a legitimate MVP force. As the old saying goes, “Make hard work a habit, not a phase.” For Alexander and the Thunder, that habit is starting to yield golden results.