OKLAHOMA CITY –
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 37 points with eight assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder outlasted the Phoenix Suns 123–119 on Friday night to clinch a spot in the NBA Cup knockout round.
Gilgeous-Alexander took over late, scoring 15 points in the final seven minutes on 4-of-5 shooting as the defending champs won their 11th straight and became just the fifth team in NBA history to open a season 19–1. OKC finished group play 4–0 in West Group A.
The 19–1 start is the best by any team through 20 games since the 2015–16 Golden State Warriors opened their historic 73–9 season with a 24–0 run.
Chet Holmgren added 23 points and eight rebounds, while Jalen Williams returned from wrist surgery to post 11 points and eight assists in 29 minutes—his first game action since July procedures on his right wrist, also adding eight assists against just one turnover.
Gilgeous-Alexander has now scored at least 20 points in 92 consecutive games, tying Wilt Chamberlain for the second-longest streak in league history. Chamberlain also holds the record with 126 straight.
Collin Gillespie led Phoenix with 24 points, while Devin Booker scored 21 and grabbed eight boards and Dillon Brooks added 19. The Suns also advanced to the quarterfinals.
Both teams hit 15 threes, many of them during a frantic fourth quarter in which Phoenix repeatedly closed the gap to a single point. After Gillespie drilled a three to cut it to 115–114, Gilgeous-Alexander answered moments later with a clutch triple of his own to give OKC the cushion it needed.
Jalen Williams
On playmaking and finding rhythm after five months out
“Just pass the ball to the guys that’ve been playing was the goal for tonight. But yeah, it’s an adjustment. Like you said, game seven was like what, five months ago? Almost six. So trying to adjust to the physicality of that to now was a little different. Then live was just like rhythm — trying not to do too much but still find the spots where I was comfortable five months ago.”
On defense coming easier than offense in his return
“Yeah, defense is very easy compared to offense, especially when you lose your right hand for five months. So yeah, I can always play hard defensively and figure it out from there.”
On his offensive rhythm and recovering from two hand surgeries
“Yeah, it’s going to take some time. Like I said, I haven’t played in forever. And there was just a lot behind the scenes as far as what was actually going on with my hand. I had two hand surgeries. I’m still trying to figure my way out through my jump shot and dribbling and trying to get my touch back. And that’s just something that’s got to progress throughout the season.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
On OKC staying composed late as Memphis made tough shots
“A lot of times you get caught up in the travesty of them making shots, and you lose sight of what’s important, which is the next possession. And we didn’t do that. And because of that, we got pretty good looks offensively and were able to make some threes back and sustain their run.”
On playing against Dillon Brooks
“He is one of the better competitors I’ve ever been around. Like, whether you want to or not, you have to compete against Dillon or he’s going to take advantage of you. And that’s a skill of his and why he’s been so good in this league for so long. So yeah, I love playing against a guy like that that brings energy and brings fire to the game every night.”
On Jalen Williams’ team-first game and leadership
“I don’t think it was a conscious thing for him like, ‘Tonight I’m just going to get my teammates the ball and not go for a big shot.’ I think he just honestly goes out there and tries to win, no matter what it looks like. He’s been a center for us, he’s played point guard, he’s played the wing, he’s played the two. He does whatever it takes for his basketball team to win and makes the right basketball play every time.”