The OKC Thunder didn’t have to search too hard to find good looks in a 146-111 win over the depleted Utah Jazz on Easter Sunday night at Paycom Center.
OKC recorded a season-high point total while shooting 58.1% from the field and 53.3% from deep.
Advertisement
OKC (62-16) now holds a three-game lead over the San Antonio Spurs (59-19) for the top seed in the Western Conference. The Thunder has four games left on its schedule, with the next one coming on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers at 9:30 p.m. CT Tuesday.
The Thunder’s magic number to clinch the No. 1 seed is now two.
Here are three takeaways from the win:
REQUIRED READING: Lu Dort may strike fear into OKC Thunder opponents, but he’s a ‘good dude’ outside of NBA
Order new book on Thunder’s run to NBA title
1 / 5
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads OKC Thunder vs Utah Jazz at Paycom Center, see top photos
Oklahoma City ‘s Cason Wallace (22) celebrates a 3-point during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Sunday April 5, 2026.
1 / 5
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads OKC Thunder vs Utah Jazz at Paycom Center, see top photos
Oklahoma City ‘s Cason Wallace (22) celebrates a 3-point during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Sunday April 5, 2026.
2 / 5
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads OKC Thunder vs Utah Jazz at Paycom Center, see top photos
Oklahoma City ‘s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots a 3-point basket over Utah’s Cody Williams (5) during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Sunday April 5, 2026.
3 / 5
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads OKC Thunder vs Utah Jazz at Paycom Center, see top photos
Oklahoma City ‘s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) reacts after a 3-point basket during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Sunday April 5, 2026.
4 / 5
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads OKC Thunder vs Utah Jazz at Paycom Center, see top photos
during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Sunday April 5, 2026.
5 / 5
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads OKC Thunder vs Utah Jazz at Paycom Center, see top photos
Oklahoma City ‘s Jalen Williams (8) and Utah’s Svi Mykhailiuk (10) get tangled up during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Sunday April 5, 2026.
Jalen Williams was everywhere in brotherly battle with Cody Williams
Utah head coach Will Hardy has unintentionally seen Jalen Williams’ face more times than he can count.
Advertisement
He often sees him when he walks around the Jazz’s facility and runs into Cody Williams, who’s always FaceTiming his older brother.
“At this point, I just expect that it’s Jalen on the other side,” Hardy said with a smile during his pregame availability.
Hardy saw a lot of Jalen’s face on Sunday as well, and this time it was intentional. The All-NBA forward made his presence known from the opening tipoff, as he had an impact on both ends of the floor.
Jalen racked up 15 points, seven assists and two rebounds on 5-for-9 shooting from the field (1 for 2 from deep) in 26 minutes. Cody also recorded eight points, five assists and three steals in the latest meeting between the two brothers.
Advertisement
More: How Thunder star Jalen Williams gave brother Cody ‘blueprint’ for success with Jazz
Oklahoma City ‘s Luguentz Dort (5) celebrates a 3-point basket during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Sunday April 5, 2026.
Lu Dort flexed his shooting skills
It’s a matter of muscle memory for Lu Dort.
In addition to being an elite defender, the seventh-year guard has steadily improved as a shooter throughout his career. And most of them come off the catch via a kickout pass.
Dort’s rhythm was seemingly thrown off late in the second quarter, though. He caught a kickout pass from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and was unable to get a shot off due to a strong closeout by Brice Sensabaugh.
But it didn’t matter. He simply got Sensabaugh to bite on a pump fake before taking one side dribble and draining the deep bomb.
Advertisement
Dort was feeling it that much Sunday, as he chipped in 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the field (3 for 5 from deep) in 21 minutes. And he has been flexing his shooting skills often recently.
After a slow start to the season, Dort is now shooting a combined 14 for 27 from deep (51.9%) in his last six outings. He appears to be hitting his stride at the right time with the postseason rapidly approaching.
More: Lu Dort may strike fear into OKC Thunder opponents, but he’s a ‘good dude’ outside of NBA
Chet Holmgren stole the show
Kyle Filipowski was seconds away from a highlight play.
Even the Paycom Center crowd was audibly impressed by the 6-foot-11 forward’s flashiness, as he spun around Chet Holmgren before delivering a behind-the-back pass to Cody Williams.
Advertisement
But it wasn’t the highlight play Filipowski expected. Holmgren quickly recovered and rejected the ensuing dunk attempt by Williams, drawing an even larger reaction from the crowd.
Holmgren continued to steal the show throughout the night. He showcased his shot-swatting skills by recording four blocks in only 22 minutes, and that wasn’t the only department he dominated.
Holmgren also poured in 21 points and seven rebounds on 8-for-11 shooting from the field (4 for 5 from deep).
More: Chet Holmgren’s path to NBA All-Star Game began with bold claim and channeled ambition
Tip-ins
∎ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 20 points and seven assists in 24 minutes before sitting out the entire fourth quarter. He has now scored at least 20 points in 138 straight games. It’s the longest streak in NBA history.
Advertisement
∎ OKC was without Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery).
∎ Utah was without Isaiah Collier (left hamstring strain), Keyonte George (right hamstring strain), Elijah Harkless (left hamstring strain), Blake Hinson (G League two-way), Jaren Jackson Jr. (left knee injury recovery), Walker Kessler (left shoulder injury recovery), Lauri Markkanen (right hip impingement) and Jusuf Nurkic (nose injury recovery).
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
Thunder at Lakers
TIPOFF: 9:30 p.m. CT Tuesday at crypto.com Arena (FanDuel Sports Network)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder scores season-high 146 points in blowout win vs Utah Jazz