OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a franchise-best 13th consecutive win in the regular season, scoring 29 points in their 116-98 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday evening.

The Thunder found themselves down by 16 points in the first half but managed to narrow the gap to 52-48 by halftime. After a sluggish first half, they surged in the third quarter, scoring 42 points and establishing an 18-point advantage entering the final quarter.

Gilgeous-Alexander also recorded a game-high eight assists, contributing to the Thunder’s impressive record of 28-5, with 17 wins in their last 18 regular-season games. Notably, he sat out the fourth quarter to rest.

Support came from Jalen Williams, who contributed 18 points, while Isaiah Hartenstein brought in 11 points and nine rebounds for the Thunder. Meanwhile, Amir Coffey topped the scoring for the Clippers with 26 points.

Despite struggling with just 31% shooting in the early part of the game, the Thunder finished with a shooting percentage of 50%. They also demonstrated their defensive prowess, leading the league with 11 steals throughout the game.

The turning point came when Williams knocked down a floater as time expired in the first half, which brought the Thunder to within four points. He then ignited a strong second half, scoring the first six points after the break and helping the team launch a decisive 23-5 run.

On an unusual note, Norman Powell, who entered the matchup averaging a career-high 24.3 points per game, struggled significantly. He missed his initial nine attempts and didn’t score until just eight minutes remained in the game, finishing with a mere six points on 1-of-11 shooting, including an 0-for-5 effort from beyond the three-point line.

Looking ahead, the Thunder will continue their homestand on Friday night against the New York Knicks, while the Clippers will return home to face the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, with expectations set on Kawhi Leonard making a return to the lineup.