Detroit News staff and wires
Oklahoma City – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder matched the best 25-game start to an NBA season by dominating the Phoenix Suns 138-89 in an NBA Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday.
The Thunder’s 24-1 mark ties the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who won their first 24 games before finally losing.
Chet Holmgren added 24 points and eight rebounds for the Thunder, who set a franchise record with their 16th straight win. They advanced to the semifinals on Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs.
It seemed this could be a tough one for the Thunder. Oklahoma City’s 123-119 win over the Suns in NBA Cup group play on Nov. 28 was its closest game during its win streak.
But Phoenix star Devin Booker missed his third straight game with a strained right groin. Booker scored 21 points in the previous matchup and said in the postgame that the “secret is out” about the Thunder’s league-leading defense.
It appears the Suns have more to learn. They shot 39.3% from the field and scored a season-low point total in the most lopsided loss in franchise history. Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 16 points, but he made just 4 of 16 shots. It was the fewest points Oklahoma City has allowed this season.
Jalen Williams hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to give the Thunder a 74-48 lead. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 17 points in the first half despite just eight shot attempts.
It was Gilgeous-Alexander’s 96th straight game with at least 20 points. He reached the total on a breakaway dunk that put the Thunder up 84-50 with 9:15 left in the third quarter.
Phoenix guard Grayson Allen was ejected after he shoved Holmgren and knocked him to the floor. The Thunder led 94-58 with 5:18 left in the third quarter when the two collided while Holmgren appeared to be setting a screen. Allen extended both arms, knocking Holmgren off balance, and was called for a Flagrant 2.
Top 25 collegeMen
(At) No. 7 Houston 80, Jackson State: 38 Emanuel Sharp scored 23 points, Isiah Harwell added 20 points and No. 7 Houston won its third straight game, routing Jackson State, 80-38 on Wednesday night.
Sharp had 19 points in the first half on 6 of 7 shooting, including 5 of 6 on 3-pointers, as the Cougars (9-1) built a 40-16 lead at the half.
Sharp and Harwell; combined to shoot 16 of 25 from the field and were 9 of 17 on 3 pointers for the game. Sharp had his second straight game scoring at least 20 points as he had 27 points on six 3 pointers in the Cougars’ 82-67 win over Florida State on Saturday night.
Big TenMen
(At) Purdue 80, Cleveland 76: Braden Smith had 15 points, 12 assists and six rebounds, and Trey Kaufman-Renn added 14 points and 10 rebounds before departing early as Purdue blew out Minnesota.
The Boilermakers (9-1, 2-0 Big Ten) sent a resounding statement in their first game since tying the record for the largest home loss by a No. 1 ranked team. Purdue lost by 23 points to then No. 10 Iowa State on Saturday.
Purdue Fort Wayne 80, Eastern Michigan 65
Fort Wayne, Ind. – Corey Hadnot II’s 28 points helped Purdue Fort Wayne defeat Eastern Michigan 80-65 on Wednesday.
Hadnot added six rebounds for the Mastodons (6-6, 1-1 Horizon League). DeAndre Craig scored 15 points, going 5 of 11 and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line. Mikale Stevenson shot 5 of 12 from the field, including 1 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 2 for 3 from the line to finish with 13 points, while adding eight rebounds.
The Eagles (6-5) were led in scoring by Addison Patterson, who finished with 13 points. Mohammad Habhab added nine points for Eastern Michigan. Mak Manciel also put up nine points.
WomenNo. 2 Texas 110, Texas Rio Grande Valley 45
Edinburg, Texas – Madison Booker had 28 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, and No. 2 Texas overwhelmed Texas Rio Grande Valley 110-45 on Wednesday night.
Texas (11-0) outscored UTRGV 60-6 in the paint and turned 29 Vaqueros turnovers into 39 points.
December schedulesMen
Wednesday
▶ Cleveland Charge 129, Motor City Cruise 121
▶ Purdue Fort Wayne 80, Eastern Michigan 65
Friday
▶ Atlanta at Pistons, 7
▶ Motor City Cruise at Iowa Wolves, 7:30
Saturday
▶ Michigan State at Penn State, noon
▶ Michigan at Maryland, 8
▶ Central Michigan at Stony Brook, noon
▶ Oakland at Northern Iowa, 6
Sunday
▶ Western Michigan at Iowa, 3
▶ Detroit Mercy at Purdue Fort Wayne, 5
Monday, Dec. 15
▶ Pistons at Boston, 7
Tuesday, Dec. 16
▶ Toledo at Michigan State, 6:30
Wednesday, Dec. 17
▶ Olivet at Central Michigan, 7
▶ Oakland at Northern Kentucky, 7
Thursday, Dec. 18
▶ Pistons at Dallas, 8:30
Friday, Dec. 19
▶ Eastern Michigan at Akron, 7
Saturday, Dec. 20
▶ Charlotte at Pistons, 7:30
▶ Oakland at Michigan State, noon
▶ La Salle at Michigan, 4
▶ Buffalo at Western Michigan, 1
▶ Central Michigan at Northern Illinois, 3
▶ Siena Heights at Detroit Mercy, 1
Monday, Dec. 22
▶ Pistons at Portland, 10
▶ Central Michigan at Wisconsin, 8
▶ Defiance College at Western Michigan, 1
▶ Eastern Michigan at Wright State, 7
Tuesday, Dec. 23
▶ Pistons at Sacramento, 10
▶ Ohio at Central Michigan, TBA
▶ Western Michigan at Toledo, 6:30
▶ Massachusetts at Eastern Michigan, 7:30
Friday, Dec. 26
▶ Pistons at Utah, 9:30
Saturday, Dec. 27
▶ Windy City Bulls at Motor City Cruise, 7
Sunday, Dec. 28
▶ Pistons at L.A. Clippers, 9
Monday, Dec. 29
▶ Windy City Bulls at Motor City Cruise, 7
▶ McNeese at Michigan, 7
▶ Cornell at Michigan State, 7
▶ Detroit Mercy at Youngstown State, 6:30
▶ Oakland at Wright State, 7
Tuesday, Dec. 30
▶ Pistons at L.A. Lakers, 10:30
▶ Grand Rapids Gold at Motor City Cruise, 7
Women
Saturday
▶ Akron at Michigan, noon
Sunday
▶ Eastern Michigan at Indiana, 1
▶ Michigan State at DePaul, 5:30
▶ Valparaiso at Western Michigan, 1
Monday, Dec. 15
▶ Oakland at Loyola University Chicago, 7
Tuesday, Dec. 16
▶ Detroit Mercy at Robert Morris, 6
Wednesday, Dec. 17
▶ Central Michigan at Valparaiso, 6
▶ Wayne State at Toledo, 7
Thursday, Dec. 18
▶ University of Dayton at Western Michigan, 6:30
Friday, Dec. 19
▶ Oakland at Illinois State University, 7:30
Saturday, Dec. 20
▶ Eastern Michigan at Ball State, 11 a.m.
▶ Northern Illinois at Central Michigan, 1
▶ Detroit Mercy at Mercer, TBA
Sunday, Dec. 21
▶ Oakland at Michigan, noon
▶ Michigan State at Indiana State, 3
▶ Detroit Mercy at Tulane, TBA
Monday, Dec. 22
▶ Western Michigan at Ohio State, 6:30
▶ Oakland at Robert Morris, 4
Sunday, Dec. 28
▶ Rutgers at Michigan State, 2
Monday, Dec. 29
▶ Michigan at Oregon, 9
Tuesday, Dec. 30
▶ Bowling Green at Eastern Michigan, 5
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