ORLANDO, FL — In the heart of enemy territory, a pumped-up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looked around for someone on his side to celebrate with.
The first person he saw was Jaylin Williams, who was equally ecstatic after watching Alex Caruso get a key steal and dunk down the stretch of OKC’s road game against Orlando on Tuesday. And they emphatically dapped each other up, sending a clapping sound that echoed throughout a now-quiet Kia Center.
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That essentially secured OKC’s 113-108 win. The Thunder (54-15) also clinched a playoff berth with the victory.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 40 points, five rebounds and four steals on 14-for-27 shooting from the field (3 for 5 from deep) in 36 minutes. He scored 28 of those points during the second half after a sluggish start.
Here are three takeaways from the win:
Order new book on Thunder’s run to NBA title
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Isaiah Hartenstein doesn’t need put up points to be productive
Isaiah Hartenstein’s push shot from the middle of the paint is automatic. It’s muscle memory at this point for the 27-year-old center, who can flick a high-flying floater over even the tallest of defenders.
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But when Hartenstein caught a pass from that spot early in the second quarter, a different instinct kicked in. It was his natural urge to assist. Hartenstein quickly threw a lob to Chet Holmgren, who flew alongside the baseline and caught the pass in mid-air for a two-handed slam.
Hartenstein proved that he doesn’t need to put up points to be productive. He went scoreless in 16 minutes but registered eight assists, seven rebounds and one block.
Hartenstein has now gone scoreless in each of his last three outings. He has recorded more assists (13) than field goal attempts (five).
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Mar 17, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault talks to referee Courtney Kirkland (61) after a foul by guard Alex Caruso (9) against the Orlando Magic in the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Alex Caruso is always ready to lace them up
Caruso is always ready to lace them up. You’d expect nothing less from one of the league’s fiercest competitors.
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But Caruso is even willing to compete when his shoes aren’t laced up.
That was the case late in the second quarter, when Caruso stumbled and lost his left shoe in the process. It didn’t stop the 32-year-old guard, who simply picked it up and continued to play defense.
Caruso then used his shoe to successfully swat a layup attempt by Tristan da Silva. But he was called for a goaltending and a technical foul since doing so is not a legal defensive move.
“I’ve never been in that situation before,” Caruso told The Oklahoman after the game. “And, I don’t know, it came to me. I just thought I was gonna block it, and I honestly don’t know what I thought the call would be. I didn’t know it was going to be a goaltending and a tech. If I would’ve known that, I probably wouldn’t have done it because it’s three points. It’s an automatic bucket, and he didn’t even put the ball above the rim.
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“As soon as I had my shoe in my hand, it crept in my mind to use it. Not like in a malicious way, but like ‘Let me try to make a play to stop the ball.’ It’s just one of those weird NBA plays that probably won’t happen for like another 10 years.”
Even that didn’t stop Caruso from continuing to compete throughout the night. He made critical hustle plays, like his late steal and slam that extended OKC’s lead to 10 points with 2:21 left in regulation.
Caruso finished with eight rebounds, two points and two steals in 24 minutes off the bench.
More: Alex Caruso called for technical foul after using shoe to block shot in Thunder-Magic game
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Chet Holmgren made his presence known before, after injury scare
Players are usually booed when they emerge from the tunnel during a road game, but that wasn’t the case for Holmgren.
After taking a hard fall and briefly exiting the game during the third quarter, the 23-year-old forward jogged back onto the floor a few minutes later. And the handful of Thunder fans in attendance made their presence known by cheering him on.
Holmgren then went back to making his presence known.
It was sorely missed while Hartenstein was also off the floor due to foul trouble, as Orlando claimed a four-point lead. But Holmgren quickly provided stability for the Thunder with his rim protection and his work on the glass.
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OKC ultimately reclaimed the lead and won the game, and Holmgren stuffed the stat sheet in the process. He ended the night with 20 points, 12 rebounds and one block in 33 minutes.
More: Chet Holmgren’s path to NBA All-Star Game began with bold claim and channeled ambition
Tip-ins
∎ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 20 points in 129 straight games. It’s the longest streak in NBA history.
∎ OKC was without Brooks Barnhizer (G League two-way), Branden Carlson (low back strain), Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery), Nikola Topić (G League assignment) and Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain).
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∎ Orlando was without Anthony Black (left lateral abdominal strain), Colin Castleton (G League two-way), Jonathan Isaac (left knee sprain), Alex Morales (G League two-way) and Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain injury management).
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.
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: SGA scores 40 as Thunder topples Magic to secure NBA playoff berth