Chet Holmgren put up 35 points and matched his career-best with 14 rebounds as the Oklahoma City Thunder secured a 119-107 victory over the undermanned Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 20 of his 31 points in the second half for the Thunder, who currently hold the top spot in the Western Conference with a record of 48-20. Gilgeous-Alexander became the 13th player in NBA history to achieve 30 or more points in 50 games.
“Utah put up a fight tonight,” remarked Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. “They displayed great competitiveness throughout the game, especially after the initial six minutes. It was a real test for us.”
Collin Sexton added 25 points for Utah, which was without key players Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson, two of their top three scorers.
“Overall, we played well for about 42 minutes tonight,” said Utah coach Will Hardy, whose team has now lost three consecutive games and 14 of their last 17, dropping to a record of 29-40. “I was pleased with our effort and competitiveness. Our performance in the first half was particularly strong, indicating some growth and maturity from the team. Turnovers hurt us tonight.”
Utah’s 15 turnovers led to 19 points for Oklahoma City. The Thunder also capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 35 points compared to Utah’s eight. Oklahoma City surged to a 22-11 lead with an alley-oop pass from Josh Giddey to Holmgren.
Although Utah narrowed the gap to 24-21 with a 10-2 run, Holmgren’s nine points and seven rebounds in the first quarter helped the Thunder secure a 31-25 lead. The Jazz rallied in the second quarter, outscoring the Thunder 29-22 to take a 54-53 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, Oklahoma City responded with an 11-0 run after trailing 61-57, taking a 68-61 lead. With Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 15 points in the quarter, the Thunder held an 82-80 advantage heading into the final period.
“I thought our persistence in the second half was commendable,” noted Daigneault. “We intensified our defense, and even though the game didn’t open up immediately, we remained committed. The group that started the fourth quarter ignited the rest of the game.”
The Thunder seized control in the fourth quarter, going on a 20-4 run to lead 100-86. Holmgren’s performance, including multiple dunks and a crucial 3-pointer, propelled Oklahoma City to victory.
“Despite some missed shots from the perimeter, we showed resilience,” said Holmgren, who also recorded three blocks. “We found alternative ways to extend our lead and secure the win.”
