WASHINGTON — In a commanding performance, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander secured 27 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder, with 16 of those coming from the free-throw line, compensating for one of his least effective shooting nights of the season. The Thunder achieved a resounding 136-95 victory over the Washington Wizards on Sunday night, marking their most significant win of the season.
Gilgeous-Alexander struggled with his shooting, hitting only 29.4% (5 of 17) of his attempts during the 30 minutes he played, which is markedly lower than his previous low of 35% against the San Antonio Spurs earlier in the season. Nevertheless, his knack for drawing fouls, paired with the Thunder’s standout defensive performance—the best in the NBA—propelled Oklahoma City to the forefront of the Western Conference and led to Washington’s heaviest defeat this season.
Supporting Gilgeous-Alexander, Aaron Wiggins contributed 23 points, while Jalen Williams added 17, and Isaiah Hartenstein posted a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. This victory improved the Thunder’s record to 2-1 on their current four-game road trip. For the Wizards, Corey Kispert was the top scorer with 17 points, but the team continued to struggle, being held under 100 points for the 17th time this season by the Thunder’s defense. Washington’s shooting was dismal, finishing at 33.7% from the field and a mere 19.6% from beyond the arc.
It’s noteworthy that Gilgeous-Alexander benefitted from not needing to play in the fourth quarter of consecutive games, especially after an impressive outing just a couple of days prior, in which he scored 39 points on 15-of-21 shooting during the Thunder’s 126-101 win against the New York Knicks.
On the Wizards’ side, Jordan Poole’s night was marked by a rare miss from the three-point line, ending his streak of 59 consecutive games with at least one made three-pointer—a franchise record.
A crucial moment in the game occurred when Gilgeous-Alexander hit his sole three-pointer late in the first quarter, igniting a devastating 24-6 run that expanded the Thunder’s lead to 51-31 midway through the second quarter. Statistically speaking, a remarkable fact emerged: the Wizards attempted just four more free throws (21) than Gilgeous-Alexander did individually (17) during the first three quarters.
Looking ahead, the Wizards are set to host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, while the Thunder will wrap up their road trip against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.
