Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered another masterclass Thursday night, scoring 31 points as the defending NBA champion Thunder beat the Washington Wizards 127-108 at Paycom Center. Oklahoma City improves to 6-0, matching last season’s red-hot start.

Joe Sparks Offense In Season Debut

With Chet Holmgren sidelined by lower back soreness, Isaiah Joe made his season debut and wasted no time making an impact. Joe scored 20 points, hitting five 3-pointers and providing instant offense off the bench. Fourteen of those points came in the first half, helping OKC build a 59-49 halftime lead.

Mitchell Continues To Impress

Rookie guard Ajay Mitchell added 20 points of his own, remaining perfect from the free-throw line this season. He’s now 19-for-19 through six games, continuing to provide reliable scoring behind Gilgeous-Alexander. Head coach Mark Daigneault praised Joe’s all-around effort, noting that his defense, passing, and shot selection elevated the team’s flow. Even without two starters, the Thunder looked sharp and unselfish, continuing to show off their depth and balance.

Defense Defines The Win

Oklahoma City’s defense once again set the tone, forcing 22 turnovers while committing only six. Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso combined for seven steals, helping the Thunder create scoring spurts that buried the Wizards in the second half. The hustle and defensive pressure have been trademarks of OKC’s unbeaten start.

Closing Out Strong

After Washington cut the deficit to 83-81 late in the third, Jaylin Williams hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to push the lead back to eight. From there, OKC’s lead ballooned to as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter. CJ McCollum led Washington with 19 points, and Bilal Coulibaly added 16 as the Wizards dropped to 1-4.

Off-Court Challenges

The perfect record came with sobering news. Earlier in the day, general manager Sam Presti announced that rookie guard Nikola Topic has been diagnosed with testicular cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. The team also remains without Jalen Williams, still recovering from offseason wrist surgery.

Thunder rookie Nikola Topić diagnosed with testicular cancerWhat’s Next

Oklahoma City will get a rare two-day break before returning to Paycom Center on Sunday to host the New Orleans Pelicans.