SAN FRANCISCO — In a close contest, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a narrow 105-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 35 points, while Jalen Williams left the game late in the first half due to a right eye injury. The Warriors played without their star player, Stephen Curry, who was sidelined with knee pain.
The game came down to the wire when Andrew Wiggins made a crucial 3-pointer, reducing the Thunder’s lead to just one point with only 11 seconds remaining. Following a missed free throw by Gilgeous-Alexander, Wiggins attempted to tie the game with a layup but was denied by a strong block from Luguentz Dort.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s impressive performance followed his 37-point outing from Monday’s win against Sacramento, showcasing his consistent scoring ability. He finished the night shooting 13 for 28. The Thunder have now achieved their third consecutive victory, bringing their season record to 14 wins and 4 losses.
For the Warriors, Jonathan Kuminga made a significant return from a two-game illness absence, leading his team with 19 points. However, they struggled without Curry, marking a 3-1 record in games this season when he is unavailable. Previous victories during Curry’s absence included wins against the Pelicans and the Rockets.
Jalen Williams suffered his injury while trying to defend against Kuminga’s dunk with just 39 seconds left in the first half, forcing him to leave the game and not return, as he was seen with an ice pack during halftime.
In noteworthy incidents, Draymond Green incurred a technical foul during the second quarter, increasing his season total to six. Accumulating 16 technicals results in an automatic one-game suspension, adding pressure on his play.
Among the statistics, Golden State’s Buddy Hield made an impressive mark by hitting 5 of 8 shots from beyond the arc, surpassing Dirk Nowitzki on the all-time 3-point list and inching closer to Jason Kidd’s record.
Looking ahead, the Thunder are set to continue their road trip with a game against the Lakers on Friday, while the Warriors will hit the road for two games, starting with a matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.