OKLAHOMA CITY — In an impressive display, Jalen Williams led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a decisive 133-106 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night during an NBA Cup matchup. Williams contributed a remarkable 28 points, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander supported the effort with 26 points, along with seven assists and six rebounds.
The Thunder saw significant scoring from their bench as Isaiah Joe recorded 19 points and Aaron Wiggins added 16, helping Oklahoma City finish their West Group B play with a 3-1 record. A successful outcome against Phoenix, who faced San Antonio later that evening, would secure Oklahoma City the top spot in the group.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who had been honored earlier in the day as the Western Conference Player of the Month, found his scoring rhythm after halftime and racked up 15 points in that period. The Thunder dominated the second half, achieving leads of up to 30 points on two occasions.
Isaiah Hartenstein, making his return from a fractured hand, had a quieter game than usual, tallying four points and five rebounds, marking his first outing without reaching double-digit scoring or rebounding in six games.
For the Jazz, Collin Sexton led the scoring efforts with 17 points, while teammates Walker Kessler and John Collins each chipped in with 15 points. However, the loss dropped Utah’s record to a disappointing 4-17.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Utah first took a lead of 19-10 after a three-point play by Sexton. However, the Thunder quickly answered back, outscoring the Jazz 22-6 to finish the first quarter up 32-25, with Joe playing a vital role by contributing eight points, including two three-pointers and a stunning left-handed dunk.
One of the glaring statistics from the night was Utah’s struggle with ball control; they committed 29 turnovers, with 19 occurring in the first half, while the Thunder managed to limit their turnovers to just eight.
Looking ahead, the Jazz will take on the Portland Trail Blazers this Friday, whereas the Thunder are set to face the Toronto Raptors on Thursday.
