OKLAHOMA CITY — In a thrilling matchup on Sunday night, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered an outstanding performance, achieving 35 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, guiding the Oklahoma City Thunder to a convincing 128-104 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. This game featured two teams that had emerged victorious in their previous two outings.
Gilgeous-Alexander narrowly missed out on securing his third career triple-double. Alongside him, Chet Holmgren contributed significantly with 25 points, nine rebounds, and six blocks, while Jalen Williams recorded 20 points along with nine rebounds, boosting the Thunder’s overall effort.
A decisive factor was Oklahoma City’s dominant fourth quarter, where they outscored Atlanta 39-18. The Thunder’s offensive execution was impressive, making 14 out of 23 field goal attempts in the final period, contrasting sharply with the Hawks, who managed only six out of 20 attempts.
For the Hawks, Trae Young led the way with 24 points and eight assists. However, he faced fierce defense from Oklahoma City, limiting his scoring opportunities as he only attempted 14 shots. Young had showcased a stellar performance in the first two games, averaging over 30 points and 10 assists.
Zaccharie Risacher, the French forward who was selected first overall in the 2024 draft, added 13 points along with six rebounds in 27 minutes for Atlanta, but it was insufficient to shift the game in their favor.
A major takeaway from the game was the Hawks’ lack of offensive support for Young. Garrison Mathews was the second-leading scorer for Atlanta with just 14 points, indicating a struggle to find scoring depth.
Oklahoma City maintained their composure throughout the game, even when they were down 58-50 with less than a minute left in the first half. They closed out the half strong by scoring the last seven points, including a buzzer-beater putback from Williams, which brought the score to 58-57 heading into halftime.
A pivotal moment occurred in the fourth quarter when Atlanta held a narrow 92-91 lead. The Thunder responded with a powerful 13-0 scoring run, which was highlighted by six points from Gilgeous-Alexander. This defensive effort kept the Hawks scoreless for over three minutes and allowed Oklahoma City to seize control of the game for good.
In terms of statistics, Oklahoma City excelled by shooting 28 for 49 within the three-point line. Once they established a solid attacks toward the basket, they began converting more three-point attempts, showcasing their versatility.
Looking ahead, the Hawks are set to host the Washington Wizards on Monday, while the Thunder will play against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.