SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 130-109 victory against the Sacramento Kings on Monday night, scoring a remarkable 37 points. Additionally, the Thunder’s bench contributed significantly, adding another 40 points to help the team extend the Kings’ losing streak to four games.

Jalen Williams also had an impressive performance, netting 28 points, while Isaiah Hartenstein returned from injury to score 17 points. On the other side, DeMar DeRozan was the standout for the Kings, scoring 19 points in the first half and finishing the game with a total of 30. However, the Kings’ bench only managed to score half as many points as their Thunder counterparts, and Sacramento struggled with a lackluster 25% shooting from beyond the arc.

In the takeaway department, the Thunder started their demanding road trip with great confidence. They will face the top three teams in the Western Conference, and Hartenstein’s return to the starting lineup was particularly beneficial for a team looking to reinforce their defensive efforts.

For the Kings, they were in a tightly contested game, trailing by just one point at halftime. The first half featured 15 lead changes, with Oklahoma City’s largest advantage being six points. Head coach Mike Brown was pleased with this competitive start, having stressed the importance of stronger early performances prior to the game. Unfortunately, the Kings failed to maintain that momentum during the second half.

A pivotal moment occurred in the third quarter when both teams faced foul troubles. However, the Kings’ fouls ultimately allowed the Thunder to gain a vital edge. A replay confirmed that Domantas Sabonis had caused an injury to Hartenstein, leading to crucial fouls by Malik Monk that shifted the momentum in favor of Oklahoma City.

One key statistic to note was the performance of De’Aaron Fox, who scored only 14 points—well below his average of 28.9 points per game—and received a technical foul in the final quarter.

Looking ahead, the Thunder will continue their five-game road trip with a match against the Warriors on Wednesday, while the Kings are set to take on the Timberwolves on the same night.