The Oklahoma City Thunder have long been viewed as title contenders. With a player like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, they will always have a shot. Sometimes, it is just that simple.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander answered that question with 51 points against the short-handed Houston Rockets. The Oklahoma City Thunder cruised to a 137-128 win over the Rockets on Monday. After scoring zero in his first six seasons,

Alexander’s putback basket in the fourth quarter put him over 50 points and sent the Oklahoma City crowd into a frenzy.