OKLAHOMA CITY — In an exciting match on Friday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame the Toronto Raptors with a final score of 121-109. Jalen Williams led the Thunder with a commendable 27 points, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 25 points to the victory. This game marked the return of Chet Holmgren, who had been sidelined due to an injury, specifically a pelvic fracture. After a three-month absence, the 7-foot-1 forward made his comeback and put up four points, five rebounds, and four blocks in 22 minutes of play.

Aaron Wiggins also had a strong performance with 18 points, helping the Thunder, who currently hold the best record in the NBA at 41-9, secure their fourth consecutive win. On the other hand, the Raptors struggled, with Scottie Barnes scoring 21 points and Gradey Dick adding 17 points, which extended their losing streak to three games.

Toronto faced challenges going into the game, missing their leading scorer RJ Barrett, who was under concussion protocols. Additionally, Brandon Ingram, recently traded from New Orleans, was present with the team but did not participate in the game.

The Thunder led by 11 points at halftime with a score of 58-47 and continued to dominate in the third quarter. Midway through that period, Jalen Williams showcased his talent by driving through traffic for a difficult layup, which he made despite being fouled. His successful free throw enlarged the Thunder’s lead to 79-64, energizing the home crowd.

Observations from the game include the Raptors’ shooting efficiency, making 20 of their 50 attempts inside the three-point arc, as the Thunder’s imposing front line, featuring Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, posed a significant challenge. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City squad maintained an impressive shooting percentage of 51.2% while facilitating the ball effectively with 26 assists against only 12 turnovers.

A noteworthy moment occurred when Holmgren scored his first basket back on a layup, hitting the mark with 9:43 remaining in the first quarter. In addition, Gilgeous-Alexander was flawless from the charity stripe, sinking all 14 of his free-throw attempts during the contest.

Looking ahead, the Raptors are set to visit Houston on Sunday, while the Thunder will take on Memphis on Saturday. The outcomes of these upcoming games will be pivotal as both teams continue to navigate the season.