Oklahoma City emerged victorious against the Phoenix Suns with a decisive score of 140-109, led by an outstanding performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who netted 50 points. This win boosts the Thunder’s record to an impressive 40-9, positioning them as the top team in the NBA.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s achievement marks a significant milestone, as he becomes only the ninth player in NBA history to score a minimum of 50 points in three games within a single seven-game stretch. His notable performances include scoring a career-high of 54 points against the Utah Jazz on January 29 and 52 points against the Golden State Warriors just a week prior.
The Suns were without their star player, Kevin Durant, due to a sprained left ankle. Despite being sidelined, the 36-year-old All-Star forward is closing in on a major career milestone, standing just 26 points away from reaching 30,000 career points.
Nevertheless, the Thunder’s fans had plenty to cheer about as they chanted “M-V-P! M-V-P!” for Gilgeous-Alexander, echoing the support that was once reserved for Durant during his time with Oklahoma City. The Suns’ Bradley Beal topped their scoring with 25 points, while Devin Booker and Royce O’Neale contributed 19 and 18 points respectively, but the team has now lost three consecutive games.
Although the Suns took a slim lead of 63-61 into halftime, Gilgeous-Alexander had already tallied 28 points by that point. The Thunder turned the tide early in the second half, launching a 13-0 run that established a 74-63 advantage. A critical steal followed by a powerful two-handed dunk from Gilgeous-Alexander widened the margin to 81-65, showcasing Oklahoma City’s momentum.
He achieved his 50th point with a baseline jumper early in the fourth quarter, increasing the Thunder’s lead to 114-84.
Key Takeaways: For the Suns, the absence of Durant proved detrimental, especially as Oklahoma City took full advantage of their 22 turnovers, scoring 23 points off those mistakes. Booker’s performance faltered as he made only 3 of 9 shots from the field.
As for the Thunder, their reputation as the best free-throw shooting team in the league remained intact, successfully converting 24 of 27 attempts. Additionally, they demonstrated efficiency by making 40 of 60 shots within the three-point line.
A pivotal moment during the game occurred when Lu Dort of the Thunder blocked Beal’s dunk attempt, followed by Gilgeous-Alexander’s quick layup which advanced the score to 87-69.
In terms of stats, the Thunder displayed commendable ball control, committing only six turnovers throughout the game—two of which came in the final minute.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to compete again on Friday night: the Suns will face off against the Utah Jazz, while the Thunder will take on the Toronto Raptors.
