Tag: Oklahoma City Thunder

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NBA (Basketball)

Oklahoma City Thunder Establish Themselves as the NBA’s Most Dominant Defensive Team

Oklahoma City Thunder Establish Themselves as the NBA’s Most Dominant Defensive Team
Oklahoma City Thunder Establish Themselves as the NBA’s Most Dominant Defensive Team

The Oklahoma City Thunder are emerging as one of the best perimeter-defending teams of the 21st century, alongside the Bruce Bowen-led San Antonio Spurs and the Tony Allen-led Memphis Grizzlies. Their defensive dominance was on full display in a 118-112 win over the Boston Celtics, where they held the defending champions to just 20-of-63 shooting from beyond the arc.

Luguentz Dort locked down Jayson Tatum, Cason Wallace shut down Jaylen Brown, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hounded Jrue Holiday. With Chet Holmgren providing rim protection, the Celtics had no easy paths to the basket, making it clear that OKC’s defense is among the elite.

Oklahoma City Thunder Showcase Elite Defense with Consistency and Statistical Dominance

This wasn’t a one-off performance for the Thunder. When these two teams met earlier in the season on January 5, OKC held the Celtics to season-lows in points (92), field goal percentage (37%), and three-point percentage (20%).

Such defensive consistency underscores the Thunder’s ability to stifle elite offenses, making them a nightmare matchup for any opponent. Their disciplined and relentless approach has drawn comparisons to some of the best defensive teams in recent history.

Oklahoma City Thunder Establish Themselves as the NBA’s Most Dominant Defensive Team
Oklahoma City Thunder Establish Themselves as the NBA’s Most Dominant Defensive Team

The Thunder’s perimeter defense is so strong that multiple players deserve recognition for All-Defensive teams. Dort, Wallace, Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Holmgren have all put up elite defensive numbers.

Gilgeous-Alexander ranks first in defensive win shares (minimum 25 minutes played), with Williams third and Holmgren seventh. Dort and Wallace are also among the top 25. Additionally, all five players rank within the top 15 in defensive rating, proving that OKC’s success isn’t just about effort—it’s backed by elite production.

Luguentz Dort Deserves Recognition as the Best Defender in the NBA

Dort deserves serious consideration for the Defensive Player of the Year award. While his advanced metrics might not be as flashy as those of his teammates, he takes on the toughest defensive assignments night after night.

His impact is evident in his performances against top scorers, holding Anthony Edwards, Kyrie Irving, Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and several other stars to inefficient shooting nights. His ability to neutralize elite offensive threats makes him the heart of OKC’s defensive identity.

For those who claim defense is dead in the modern NBA, the Thunder are proving otherwise. They are holding teams to just 33.5% shooting from three, an incredible feat in a league that thrives on perimeter scoring.

As the playoffs approach and the game slows down, teams will struggle to score against OKC’s suffocating defense. With their combination of perimeter stoppers and elite rim protection, the Thunder could be the toughest defensive challenge any contender faces this postseason.

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NBA (Basketball)

NBA roundup: Naz Reid leads the Timberwolves to a dominant win over the Western Conference-leading Thunder

Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder

Naz Reid had 27 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists, helping the Minnesota Timberwolves win 116-101 over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday in Minneapolis.

Anthony Edwards added 23 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists for Minnesota, ending a two-game losing streak despite Rudy Gobert being out with back spasms. Jaden McDaniels scored 21 points.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 24 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. Oklahoma City never led during the game, marking the first time that happened this season.

Jalen Williams scored 20 points for the Thunder. Chet Holmgren had 11 points and 12 rebounds, and Isaiah Hartenstein also had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Pelicans 140, Kings 133 (OT)

CJ McCollum scored 43 points, including a key 3-pointer in overtime, leading New Orleans to a win over Sacramento, ending their 10-game losing streak.

Trey Murphy III added 18 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds, while Jose Alvarado scored 18 points for New Orleans.

Zach LaVine had 32 points and 10 assists for the Kings, whose three-game winning streak ended. Domantas Sabonis added 22 points and 28 rebounds, and Malik Monk scored 24 points and had nine assists.

Warriors 105, Rockets 98

Stephen Curry scored 27 points, leading Golden State to a win over Houston, despite a late comeback from the Rockets.

The Warriors improved to 3-1 since acquiring Jimmy Butler III, who contributed 19 points and eight rebounds. Golden State moved above .500 with a 28-27 record entering the All-Star break. Brandin Podziemski added 18 points, Draymond Green had 13 points and eight assists, and Moses Moody scored 10 points.

Aaron Holiday scored a season-high 25 points for the Rockets, while Jock Landale added 13 points and eight rebounds, including 11 points in the fourth quarter. Nate Williams also had a season-high 11 points in 18 minutes.

Terrrence Shannon Jr. celebrates after scoring

Clippers 120, Jazz 116 (OT)

Norman Powell scored a career-high 41 points and led the Clippers past Utah in overtime in Salt Lake City.

Powell scored nine of the Clippers’ 12 points in overtime. James Harden added 32 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and two blocks. Ben Simmons made his Clippers debut with 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and three steals.

Jazz rookie Kyle Filipowski scored a career-high 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Lauri Markkanen also scored 20 points.

Mavericks 118, Heat 113

Dante Exum scored a season-high 27 points to help Dallas defeat Miami in the final game before the All-Star break for both teams.

Max Christie scored 19 points, Spencer Dinwiddie added 18, and Kessler Edwards had a season-high 15 points. The Mavericks won for the fourth time in their last five games despite missing eight players due to injury, including Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson.

Tyler Herro matched his season high with 40 points for Miami, which lost its fourth straight game. Kel’el Ware scored 17 points, Kyle Anderson had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Alec Burks added 12 points off the bench.

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NBA (Basketball)

Timberwolves secure a vital win over the Thunder with key contributions from rookies Shannon and Dillingham

Terrrence Shannon Jr. celebrates after scoring

The Minnesota Timberwolves were missing key players for their last game before the All-Star break. They faced the top team in the Western Conference while playing back-to-back nights, following a tough loss to a team missing several players. However, the rookies stepped up and were ready to perform.

With four of their top eight scorers injured, the Timberwolves defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-101 on Thursday. It was one of their best wins in a season full of ups and downs, showing the importance of drafting and developing young players, even for veteran teams.

Terrence Shannon Jr. came off the bench first, scoring all 13 of his points in the first half, along with six rebounds in 29 minutes and a plus-23 rating.

Rob Dillingham contributed six points and five assists in 21 minutes with a plus-18 rating.

Jaylen Clark, who is technically in his second year after sitting out his rookie year due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, made his first career start.

“I love how the young guys have been playing. I really do,” said head coach Chris Finch, who has been cautious about expanding his rotations over the past three seasons with the Timberwolves always competing for a playoff spot. “We’ve got to try to maintain a role for them going forward.

Maybe not every night. They’ve got to stay ready. Who knows when and how healthy we’ll get at any given time, so we’ll wait for that to happen before we make any predictions. But I just kind of like how they’re fighting.”

Clark didn’t have much of an impact in his 24 minutes on Thursday, but Finch made sure to recognize the 2023 second-round draft pick’s recent improvements. Over a five-game homestand from Feb. 1-8, Clark averaged 22 minutes and scored 49 points in total.

Dillingham, the eighth overall pick from Kentucky, played with high energy and helped put pressure on Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s top scorer, holding him to a 6-for-21 shooting night.

Rob Dillingham works towards as Aaron Wiggins defends in the 1st half

Shannon has played more minutes in the last four games, and on Thursday, he set career highs in points, rebounds, minutes, and plus-minus.

“He’s super tough, but we already knew that,” Dillingham said. “Any time I see him on the fast break, I throw it up. It’s an automatic bucket or a foul. And he plays defense.”

Shannon was asked when he realized his way into getting playing time was through defense.

“Ah, I knew that before I came into the NBA,” Shannon said. “I was always a two-way player, and that was my mindset coming into the NBA.”

Shannon and Dillingham worked well together with another young player, Luka Garza, who contributed eight points and eight rebounds in 15 minutes. The two first-round picks brought energy to the offense, which was felt by their teammates and the fans.

In the second quarter, Clark grabbed a defensive rebound and passed it to Dillingham, who found Shannon for a layup over Thunder player Chet Holmgren to extend the lead to 52-35.

On the next possession, Dillingham drove to the basket, drawing three defenders, and passed to Shannon in the corner. Shannon missed the three, but Naz Reid grabbed the rebound and passed it to Clark, who then assisted Shannon for another layup.

In the fourth quarter, Dillingham ran a fast break and made a behind-the-back pass to Reid on the wing. Reid passed the ball back to Dillingham, who finished with a running layup to put the Timberwolves up 103-89.

“We just work out every day and wait for our opportunity,” Dillingham said. “Everyone is just positive with what they do. We come in whenever we get a chance, and we can perform.”

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NBA (Basketball)

Bucks Secure Second NBA Cup Title with Dominant Win Over Thunder

Bucks Secure Second NBA Cup Title with Dominant Win Over Thunder
Bucks Secure Second NBA Cup Title with Dominant Win Over Thunder (NBA)

The Milwaukee Bucks celebrated a significant victory in Las Vegas, winning the NBA Cup title by defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-81. Tournament MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo led the charge with 26 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Damian Lillard added 23 points. The Bucks dominated beyond the arc, hitting 17 three-pointers, proving their offensive strength and solid defense throughout the game. This victory marks the Bucks’ second NBA Cup title, joining the Los Angeles Lakers as the only teams to win the two-year-old event.

Milwaukee’s performance was characterized by a balanced team effort. Alongside Antetokounmpo and Lillard, Brook Lopez and Gary Trent Jr. contributed 13 points each, helping extend the lead in the second half. A key moment came in the third quarter when the Bucks went on a 19-5 run, turning a five-point lead into a 19-point advantage. The Bucks held firm, with Antetokounmpo expressing his pride in the team’s development and the progress they’ve made during the tournament.

Oklahoma City’s Struggles

The Oklahoma City Thunder, despite strong individual performances, were unable to keep up with the Bucks. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 points, and Jalen Williams added 18, but the Thunder struggled offensively. They were outscored 51-15 from beyond the arc and shot just 34% from the field. Coach Mark Daigneault acknowledged that while they did some things well defensively, particularly in the paint, their offensive struggles ultimately cost them the game.

Bucks Secure Second NBA Cup Title with Dominant Win Over Thunder
Bucks Secure Second NBA Cup Title with Dominant Win Over Thunder (NBA)

While the NBA Cup title was significant for both teams, it doesn’t count towards the regular season standings. The Bucks, who have been on an impressive run after a tough start to the season, won’t see the victory reflected in their official record. However, the team earned a $514,971 bonus each, compared to the Thunder’s $205,988, highlighting the financial incentive for success in the tournament. Despite the loss, the Thunder will move forward, learning from the defeat.

Antetokounmpo’s Leadership

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s leadership was evident as the Bucks celebrated the victory. He expressed his pride in the team, stating that while they had made great strides, there was still work to be done. This victory added to Antetokounmpo’s legacy, following his role in securing the 2021 NBA Championship for the Bucks. While this was a significant trophy, Antetokounmpo made it clear that the ultimate goal remains the NBA title in June, keeping the focus on the bigger picture.

The Bucks played without guard Khris Middleton due to illness but still managed to improve their NBA Cup record to 12-1, with a perfect 7-0 this season. For the Thunder, it was a rare setback, as they typically perform well when leading after three quarters, with a 20-1 record before the game. Oklahoma City will look to bounce back, with upcoming games against Orlando and Miami. Meanwhile, the Bucks will continue their season with games against Cleveland and Washington, keeping their eyes on both the regular season and future playoff aspirations.

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NBA (Basketball)

In Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder dominate the Cavs in a statement win

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander takes the ball forward in the 1st half

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had another impressive game, scoring 40 points in a performance that showed why he’s a contender for the MVP award this season. However, what made him most excited wasn’t just his own performance, but how the whole Oklahoma City Thunder team played in their big win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, which was broadcast nationally.

“There’s obviously myself as the leading scorer of the team. I’m going to get most of the praise. But the world is seeing all of the — we call them cockroaches in our locker room. Cockroaches and hyenas,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.

“Those are the guys who do the little work, the guys that don’t get the most praise. They don’t average 30, but their part into our winning and our season is just as big, and I’m glad the world gets to see that.”

Gilgeous-Alexander, who is 6-foot-6, finished with 40 points and eight assists in just three quarters as the Thunder, who lead the Western Conference, defeated the Cavaliers, who are leading the Eastern Conference, 134-114. He made 17 of his 26 shots, often using his dribbling skills to break down Cleveland’s defense, getting to the basket or hitting mid-range jumpers.

Last season, Gilgeous-Alexander was the runner-up for the NBA MVP award. This year, he’s averaging 31.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.0 assists for a Thunder team that shares the league’s best record at 34-6 with the Cavaliers. He has already earned the Western Conference Player of the Month award twice this season.

When asked if Gilgeous-Alexander was trying to make a statement on national TV, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault downplayed it.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks to shoot over Max Strus in the 1st half

“You know, he just looked the same,” Daigneault said. “That’s why he’s so good. It’s like that pretty much every night. So he was on it, and I thought he maintained a pretty good floor game throughout it.”

Fans have certainly taken notice. In the third round of All-Star fan voting, the Canadian guard leads Western Conference guards, ahead of stars like Stephen Curry, Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Edwards.

“Personally, it feels good,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “All the hard work’s paying off. Nothing’s guaranteed in life, so you take everything that goes your way as a blessing. Don’t take it for granted. That’s what I try to do. … Just trying not to get too wrapped up into it and keep plugging away at what your job is every night. That’s what I’ll continue to do.”

While Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the Thunder, Jalen Williams has been his most reliable teammate. Williams is averaging 20.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in his third season. Although Williams hasn’t been named an All-Star yet, Gilgeous-Alexander believes he deserves to be one this year.

“You can start with his points. He obviously averages 20 and very efficient,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He carries the load when I’m out of the game, makes plays for him and the guys around him.”

Gilgeous-Alexander also praised Williams’ defense. Despite Williams saying he’s 6-6, Gilgeous-Alexander joked that he thinks Williams is actually shorter.

“At 6-4, he’s able to guard all five positions on the basketball court,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, as Williams tried to argue. “Like tonight, he guarded a 7-footer. I could never. And a lot of guys our size could never.

Those types of things directly impact winning, and we clearly are winning basketball games. Nobody has his print on us winning basketball games more than Jalen Williams, and that’s why he deserves to be an All-Star.”

Through these contributions, both Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams are helping Oklahoma City thrive as one of the best teams in the NBA.

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NBA (Basketball)

3 takeaways after shorthanded Sixers lose to the Thunder in Philadelphia

Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA)

3 observations after severely undermanned Sixers fall to Thunder originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers couldn’t overcome a huge difference in player availability on Tuesday night against the Western Conference-leading Thunder.

They lost 118-102 at Wells Fargo Center, falling to 15-23 with their third straight defeat. Oklahoma City improved to 33-6.

Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 32 points and nine assists.

For the Sixers, rookie Justin Edwards scored 25 points. Jeff Dowtin Jr. set a career-high with 18 points, and Guerschon Yabusele added 17.

The Sixers will face the Knicks on Wednesday. For their first game in this back-to-back, they were missing several key players. The following players missed the game against OKC:

  • Tyrese Maxey (left hand sprain)
  • Joel Embiid (left foot sprain)
  • Paul George (right ankle soreness)
  • Caleb Martin (right groin soreness)
  • KJ Martin (left foot stress reaction)
  • Andre Drummond (left toe sprain)
  • Kyle Lowry (right hip sprain)
  • Jared McCain (left lateral meniscus surgery)

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said before the game that Embiid is “day-to-day.”

Drummond is also day-to-day. He and KJ Martin have recently resumed on-court workouts, according to a team official.

Here are some key takeaways from the Sixers’ undermanned loss on Tuesday:

An early OKC blitz

Ricky Council IV made his first career start, and Reggie Jackson also started his first game as a Sixer.

Council scored on an and-one layup to bring the Thunder’s lead to 10-9. But after that, the Sixers’ deficit grew quickly, and the talent gap between the teams was clear.

The Sixers allowed a 22-2 run. Gilgeous-Alexander seemed to easily get wherever he wanted. He scored a layup along the baseline, cut through the defense for an easy basket, and ended the first quarter with 14 points and three assists. He started 10 for 10 from the floor and didn’t miss a shot until the 8:01 mark of the third quarter.

On the other side, the Sixers saw why OKC has the best defensive rating in the NBA by a wide margin. The Sixers had trouble creating space on their drives. Even when they got into the paint, they struggled to get good shots against the Thunder’s long, athletic, and anticipatory defense.

Shai Gilgeous Alexander reacts in the game

Two-ways and rookies off the bench

The Sixers had only four bench players available on Tuesday, and they used all of them.

The second unit consisted of the team’s two-way players—Dowtin, Edwards, and Pete Nance—and rookie center Adem Bona. Nance got his first chance to play, moving between power forward and center, and finished 18 scoreless minutes.

Edwards was more aggressive on offense than usual and made an immediate impact, scoring nine points on 4-for-5 shooting in his first eight minutes. The Sixers cut OKC’s lead to nine points in the second quarter after an Eric Gordon three-pointer, and they had some defensive success. Of course, it’s easier to defend OKC when Gilgeous-Alexander is on the bench.

Oubre was the Sixers’ main defender on Gilgeous-Alexander and also handled the ball at times. He struggled offensively in the first half, missing all seven of his shots.

On the last possession of the second quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander stole an Edwards pass intended for the baseline and turned the Sixers’ 13th turnover into a dunk just before halftime. This gave OKC a 58-43 lead going into the break.

Nothing stunning in the cards

Nurse called a timeout just 95 seconds into the second half after a Gilgeous-Alexander layup. He subbed out Gordon and put Edwards in.

Dowtin and Edwards kept the game from slipping further away in the third quarter. Dowtin has shown he can score in the G League with the Delaware Blue Coats. Edwards exceeded 17 points only once during his one college season at Kentucky, but he made the most of his opportunity against OKC.

Yabusele came alive in the final part of the third quarter, scoring nine points in the last minute and four seconds. He capped the period with a buzzer-beating put-back layup.

The Sixers kept their comeback attempt going early in the fourth. Long-range shots from Edwards and Gordon cut OKC’s lead to 91-87.

Despite this, the Sixers’ chances of catching up to the Thunder were slim.

Even with Edwards and Dowtin scoring, and OKC showing some lapses in focus, the Sixers didn’t have enough defense to slow down the Thunder. As often happens when Embiid is missing, the Sixers lacked rim protection and couldn’t pull off an upset against a healthier, stronger team.

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NBA (Basketball)

Thunder and Knicks aim to extend win streaks in showdown in New York

Utah Jazz and New York Knicks

The two hottest teams in the NBA will face each other Friday night when the New York Knicks play the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Knicks are on a nine-game winning streak, one of their longest in team history.

The Thunder have won 13 straight games, marking their longest winning streak since the franchise moved from Seattle in 2008.

A win on Friday would match the franchise’s longest winning streak of 14 games set in 1995-96 as the Seattle SuperSonics.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault isn’t too focused on the streak, especially with the Knicks and Boston Celtics upcoming to finish a five-game homestand.

“Anything like that, you stack up to it,” Daigneault said. “It’s possession after possession, day after day, and then sometimes you look up and you’ve won a certain amount of games in a row.”

Friday’s game will showcase strength vs. strength when the Knicks have the ball.

The Thunder have allowed the fewest points per game in the NBA at 103.2, while the Knicks are fifth in scoring, averaging 117.9 points per game.

“They’re better than they’ve ever been,” New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns said. “So we gotta be at our best to go out there and compete at a high level.”

The Thunder are coming off a 116-98 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday, a game where star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t play in the fourth quarter due to a comfortable lead.

Oklahoma City Thunder- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

That could help keep Gilgeous-Alexander fresh for Friday’s game.

Gilgeous-Alexander has played all 33 games this season, his longest streak without missing a game to start the season since 2019-20, his first year with the Thunder after being traded from the Clippers.

Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.2 points per game this season.

Friday’s game will be the first matchup for Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Hartenstein against the Knicks since he signed with the Thunder as a free agent after spending the last two seasons with New York.

New York could be without its top point guards again.

Both Jalen Brunson (right calf tightness) and Miles McBride (left hamstring tightness) are listed as questionable after missing Wednesday’s win over Utah.

That 119-103 victory sent a message, according to Josh Hart.

“We have great depth. We’ve got guys that can score the ball,” Hart said. “It just shows the difference between last year and this year.”

If Brunson and McBride are out again, Cameron Payne is likely to have a bigger role.

Payne played 35 minutes and recorded nine assists, both season highs, in the win over the Jazz.

“Everybody just stays ready,” Payne said. “I feel like we’ve got a pretty good bench and everybody is always working on their game. And when their time is called, everybody is ready.”

Friday’s game will be the first of two matchups this season between the teams. The two will also meet next Friday in New York.

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NBA (Basketball)

Thunder rally to extend streak with win over Clippers in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers

The Oklahoma City Thunder extended their winning streak to 13 games, their longest since moving to Oklahoma City, with a 116-98 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 29 points, while Jalen Williams added 18, helping Oklahoma City get closer to tying the franchise’s record for consecutive wins. Before becoming the Thunder in 2008, the Seattle Supersonics, with a 64-18 record, won 14 straight games during the 1995-96 season.

Oklahoma City’s defense took over in the third quarter, where they forced seven turnovers and turned them into 17 points, outscoring the Clippers 42-20. The Thunder scored a total of 31 points off turnovers in the game, leading the NBA in that category.

The Clippers, missing James Harden due to right groin soreness, have now lost two straight games. This was just the second game Harden has missed this season.

In the last two games, Oklahoma City has outscored its opponents 85-43 in the third quarter.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 points in the third quarter alone, including six free throws. He finished the game making 9 of 17 shots from the field and hitting all nine of his free throws.

Unlike in their win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, the Thunder didn’t allow a late-game comeback attempt by the Clippers.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (NBA)

This allowed Thunder coach Mark Daigneault to rest Gilgeous-Alexander for the entire fourth quarter, as it was the first game of a back-to-back.

The Clippers’ leading scorer, Norman Powell, had a tough night, missing his first 10 shots and making his first basket only four minutes into the fourth quarter. He finished with a season-low six points on 1-of-11 shooting.

Amir Coffey led Los Angeles with a season-high 26 points.

While the Clippers started strong, hitting seven of their first 10 shots, the Thunder struggled early, especially from three-point range. Oklahoma City made just one of nine attempts from beyond the arc in the first quarter, and the Clippers finished the period with a 10-2 run, leading by eight at the end of the first.

The Clippers pushed their lead to 16 points in the second quarter, after stretching their run to 20-4. But, similar to their performance on Tuesday, Oklahoma City gained some momentum heading into the third.

The Thunder cut the deficit to four with a running pull-up jumper by Jalen Williams just before the halftime buzzer. Williams finished with 18 points. The Thunder will look to extend their streak to 14 games on Friday against the New York Knicks.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Thunder aim for longest win streak in OKC history against Clippers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Kawhi Leonard in the 1st half

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder has been on an incredible hot streak, which has helped the team extend their winning streak to 12 games heading into their Thursday matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. This is the longest winning streak for the Thunder since they moved from Seattle.

During this stretch, Gilgeous-Alexander has been putting up impressive numbers: 33.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game, with a shooting percentage of 56.6%.

“I feel like I’m flowing,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “I’m not pressing, I’m not thinking, I’m just out there hoopin’. The hard work is paying off.”

Gilgeous-Alexander, who started his career with the Clippers before being traded to Oklahoma City in 2019, had a huge game last Tuesday, scoring 40 points with four steals in the Thunder’s 113-105 win over Minnesota. In the last matchup between the Thunder and Clippers on November 11, a 134-128 win for Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 45 points.

Despite the absence of Chet Holmgren, who is out with a hip injury, offseason addition Isaiah Hartenstein has stepped up and made a difference for the Thunder. Hartenstein praised Gilgeous-Alexander, saying, “It’s weird… it feels like he’s not forcing it.

Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors

He’s not going out there thinking about himself. He’s going out there trying to help the team, and he’s still getting 40. That’s why I think he should be the MVP this year.”

The Thunder are 16-1 since Hartenstein’s debut, with him earning 13 double-doubles during that time.

Meanwhile, the Clippers are coming off a tough loss to the San Antonio Spurs, 122-86, on Tuesday. Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said, “Mentally we’ve got to be tougher and we’ve got to be better.” The Thunder have won both of the first two meetings between the teams this season, largely due to the Clippers’ high number of turnovers, totaling 46 in the two games, leading to 55 points for Oklahoma City.

Lue acknowledged that the Clippers need to limit turnovers against a team like the Thunder, who are excellent at scoring.

The Clippers are also looking forward to the return of their star player, Kawhi Leonard, who has missed the season so far due to right knee inflammation. Leonard has been ramping up his activity and could make his season debut against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. Despite Leonard’s absence, the Clippers are holding strong in sixth place in the Western Conference.

Clippers guard James Harden believes Leonard is mindful of the team’s current chemistry and wants to fit in without disrupting their flow: “He feels like he doesn’t want to come over and just mess up the flow and chemistry that we have been building up. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.”

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NBA (Basketball)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder past Wolves for 12th consecutive victory

Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 113-105 on Tuesday, extending their winning streak to 12 games.

This is the Thunder’s longest streak since early in the 2012-13 season, tying the record for the franchise since it moved to Oklahoma City. The longest streak in franchise history is a 12-game run by the 1995-96 Seattle SuperSonics.

After a slow start, Isaiah Hartenstein finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma City. Luguentz Dort and Jalen Williams each had 14 points and seven rebounds, with Williams also adding seven assists.

For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards scored 13 of his 20 points in the second quarter, but their three-game win streak was broken. Naz Reid contributed 19 points and eight rebounds, Mike Conley scored 16 points, Julius Randle added 11 points and six assists, and Donte DiVincenzo had 10 points and five assists.

Minnesota trailed by 14 points entering the fourth quarter but cut the lead to three twice in the final 3:14. However, each time Oklahoma City answered back.

Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA)

The last response came with just under two minutes left, when Williams passed the ball to Gilgeous-Alexander near the top of the key, and he hit a 3-pointer to give the Thunder a six-point lead with 1:48 remaining.

This was Gilgeous-Alexander’s fourth 40-point game of the season, with three of those coming during the Thunder’s current streak.

In the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander was dominant. With just a few seconds left in the quarter, he drove to the basket, made a layup that hung in the air for a moment before dropping, and the crowd erupted. That gave him 19 points in the quarter.

The Timberwolves turned the ball over 11 times in the third, allowing Oklahoma City to score 20 points off those mistakes. The Thunder finished with 31 points from Minnesota’s season-high 24 turnovers. Oklahoma City committed 13 turnovers, leading to 10 points for the Timberwolves.

While the Timberwolves set the tone defensively in the first half and held the Thunder to a 39.6% shooting percentage, Oklahoma City dominated the third quarter, outscoring Minnesota 43-23 and taking control of the game.

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NBA (Basketball)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder target the Hornets

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (NBA)

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets look very different going into their game on Saturday night.

The Thunder have won four straight games since losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup final.

“It’s the extra plays that put you over the edge,” said Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “We know that. We have a bunch of players that are hungry to do that.”

The Thunder had a big second half to beat Indiana 120-114 on Thursday, led by Gilgeous-Alexander’s career-high-tying 45 points. Nine of those points came in the final minute, including a key 3-pointer.

“That’s what the work is about,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It went in because I took the shot. I’d like to think I’ve grown a bit. Trusting my work. It’s about continuing to push forward.”

Gilgeous-Alexander has been the top scorer for the Thunder in seven of the last eight games, including back-to-back 40-plus-point games. His latest performance was one of his best.

“That was a masterpiece,” said Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault. “He just had total control.”

Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring average is now 31.1 points per game, ranking second in the league. Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball is fourth at 30.1.

The Hornets have lost six straight games and 14 of their last 15. Their latest loss came on Thursday, a 113-110 defeat at Washington, a team with fewer wins than Charlotte’s seven.

“We’re going through a little bit of adversity right now, and I think this group is banding together,” said Hornets coach Charles Lee. “They’re competing harder and learning how to get through it. I have total faith that we will continue to push through and keep getting better every day.”

Philadelphia 76ers and Charlotte Hornets

Miles Bridges or Ball have been the Hornets’ top scorer in four of the last five games. Ball has scored more than 30 points twice since returning from an injury.

The Hornets are starting to get back some of their post players with Mark Williams and Nick Richards both playing. However, Bridges has been leading the team in rebounding, grabbing the most boards in three of the last five games.

Williams has played in eight games— all losses— since missing October and November while recovering from an injury. His 16-point performance on 8-for-11 shooting in 26 minutes at Washington is a sign of hope.

Richards’ role has been reduced, as he has played no more than 17 minutes in five of his last six games.

Brandon Miller appears to be back in the regular rotation for the Hornets. He scored 18 points in 36 minutes at Washington, although he was just 6-for-21 shooting.

“Defensively, he’ll give us a boost,” Lee said. “Offensively, with his ability to shoot… I think he’s one of the better catch-and-shoot players on our team and he’s always able to create and play-make for other guys.”

Miller has only played three games in the past two and a half weeks, shooting 9-for-34 on 3-pointers in those games.

Four of Oklahoma City’s last six opponents have scored fewer than 100 points. The Hornets have scored more than 110 points only once in their last six games.

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NBA (Basketball)

Thunder extend streak to nine, defeat Pacers to stay atop West

Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 45 points and nearly recorded a triple-double as the Oklahoma City Thunder came from behind to beat the Indiana Pacers 120-114 on Thursday night in Indianapolis.

Gilgeous-Alexander also grabbed seven rebounds and made eight assists for Oklahoma City, which extended its winning streak to nine games despite being down by 15 points in the first quarter. Jalen Williams added 20 points, Luguentz Dort scored 13, and Isaiah Hartenstein contributed 11 points and 13 rebounds.

The Thunder pulled ahead after a 107-107 tie, thanks to an 8-0 run with free throws from Williams and Hartenstein, giving Oklahoma City a 111-107 lead with 1:39 left to play.

Bennedict Mathurin responded with two free throws for Indiana, but Gilgeous-Alexander hit a three-pointer with 59.4 seconds remaining and then made six free throws in the final moments to seal the victory.

Andrew Nembhard scored 23 points for the Pacers, who saw their five-game winning streak end despite shooting better than the Thunder, 47.2 percent to 46.3 percent. Pascal Siakam had a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Myles Turner added 12 points and 11 rebounds. Mathurin finished with 18 points.

Jaylen Brown drives past forward Pascal Siakam

Oklahoma City scored 11 of the first 13 points in the third quarter to take its first lead of the game at 64-63.

Indiana quickly regained the lead and was up 72-65 with 6:52 left in the third after a three-pointer by Tyrese Haliburton. The Thunder briefly led by four in the period, but Jarace Walker hit a three-pointer with 13.2 seconds left, sending the Pacers into the fourth with an 84-83 advantage.

Siakam helped Indiana get off to a strong start with three three-pointers during a 13-2 run, giving the Pacers a 29-19 lead at the end of the first quarter. Oklahoma City struggled early, shooting just 7-for-27 in the first 12 minutes.

The Pacers extended their lead to 44-31 midway through the second quarter after Mathurin hit a three-pointer, assisted on another, and made a floater. However, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 16 points in the final 5:48 of the half, forcing Indiana to settle for a 61-53 lead at halftime.