OKLAHOMA CITY — In a commanding performance, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 41 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a decisive 123-105 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday night. This defeat marks the Wizards’ 21st loss in 23 games and their 12th consecutive defeat away from home, placing them at the bottom of the NBA standings.
Jalen Williams contributed with 17 points, while Isaiah Hartenstein recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Thunder have been on a winning streak, claiming eight victories out of their last nine games. Their shooting efficiency was notable, finishing the game with 44.3% from the field and sinking 19 of their 22 free throws.
At halftime, Oklahoma City held a narrow lead of 67-63, and they maintained their advantage with a 91-87 score heading into the final quarter. The Thunder then exploded in the fourth quarter, initiating a 19-3 run that firmly established their dominance in the game.
Despite a slow start where Gilgeous-Alexander only tallied two points in the opening quarter, he ended up making 14 of 25 shots, including hitting 3 of his 6 attempts from beyond the arc, and going a perfect 10 of 10 at the charity stripe. Alongside his scoring, he also grabbed nine rebounds and contributed three assists, three steals, and three blocks.
On the opposing side, Jordan Poole led the Wizards with 31 points. Carlton “Bub” Carrington supported with 14 points, while Jonas Valanciunas chipped in with 12 points and 16 rebounds. The Wizards were missing key players in their lineup, including Kyle Kuzma, Bilal Coulibaly, and their No. 2 overall draft pick, Alex Sarr, all of whom typically score in double figures.
The game had its share of highlights; the Wizards started strong by successfully converting 16 out of 32 three-point attempts but struggled to maintain that pace, missing 11 consecutive shots later on. Although Oklahoma City faced challenges from long range, shooting only 26.3% from three, key contributions from rookie Ajay Mitchell, along with Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander, helped stretch their lead to 15 points early in the fourth quarter. Mitchell ended his night with 16 points.
One significant moment was the season debut of Thunder forward Jaylin Williams, who received a warm reception from the crowd. Just minutes after entering the game, he scored a three-pointer that capped a 13-0 run, shifting the momentum and setting Oklahoma City up for a lead they would not relinquish.
An alarming statistic for the Wizards was their high turnover rate, committing 19 turnovers, which allowed Oklahoma City to capitalize with 24 points off those mistakes.
Looking ahead, the Wizards will host the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, while the Thunder will travel to face the Indiana Pacers on the same day.
