Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 31 points and Jalen Williams' big fourth quarter carry Thunder past Jazz
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, Jalen Williams had 11 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and the Oklahoma City Thunder snapped the Utah Jazz’s six-game winning streak with a 134-129 victory Thursday night.
“We’re not feeling 100% and yet really competed for 48 minutes together on both ends against the hottest team in the league coming in,” Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said. “We probably didn’t have a fastball physically, but we had our fastball mentally and competitively.”
Williams, who shot 11 of 14, made four 3-pointers and has scored at least 25 points in three consecutive games.
“The guy lines up and guards a premier matchup every night tonight," Daigneault said. "And for him to be able to do that offensively and do that defensively is a very complete game. It’s very impressive.”
Williams asserts it's all about confidence.
“There was flow and it just has been been happening in the fourth quarter,” said Williams, who has been nicknamed ‘Fourth Quarter Dub.’
Cason Wallace scored a season-high 16 points and Josh Giddey had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who had 29 fast-break points.
"We try and play downhill. That's our identity," said Gilgeous-Alexander, who shot 15 of 17 from the line. “We run and we want to touch the paint whenever we can.”
Collin Sexton scored 31 and Lauri Markkanen added 26 for the Jazz, who had their nine-game home winning streak stopped. It came a day after the NBA postponed Utah's game scheduled for Wednesday against Golden State because of the death of Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević in Salt Lake City early that morning.
Sexton made three free throws and a dunk to get Utah within 130-126 before Wallace made his season-best fourth 3-pointer for the Thunder.
“He’s not flinching,” Daigneault said about Wallace after the rookie's seventh start. “Just great poise and mental toughness.”
Jordan Clarkson answered with a 3-pointer for Utah, but Chet Holmgren blocked Walker Kessler’s dunk attempt. On the ensuing out of bounds play, the Jazz couldn’t convert on two attempts and Holmgren closed the win with a free throw.
“We battled and gave ourselves a chance to win the game. That’s all you can really ask for after a first half like that,” Markkanen said.
The Thunder made their first seven shots in the fourth quarter, and with Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench, Williams' 3-pointer capped a 6-0 run and Oklahoma City led 113-102 with 8:49 to play.
“We’re starting to figure out how to attack (zone defense) best and I thought it was a good response from the other night against LA, where we settled for a lot of 3s, but tonight I thought we made a heavy emphasis of getting into the paint making zone collapse first,” Giddey said of the Thunder's success against multiple defensive looks.
The Jazz caught the Thunder and tied the game twice in the third quarter, but Utah never took the lead
The Thunder stormed out to a 34-15 lead behind Gilgeous-Alexander’s shots in the lane and trips to the line, mainly off transition.
The Jazz trimmed the lead to 64-61, but Oklahoma City shot 60% in the first half and five starters were in double figures by halftime as the Thunder led 76-67. That tied for their season high in first-half points.
“They were getting into the paint way too easily," said Utah's John Collins, who had 21 points. "Some of that stuff comes back to bite us in the butt at the end of games like this where it’s a game of small margins and we need every point we can get.”
UP NEXT
Thunder: Finish their four-game road trip at Minnesota on Saturday night.
Jazz: Begin a six-game road trip at Houston on Saturday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Chet Holmgren vs. John Collins (Josh Giddey gains possession) | |||
11:49 | Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot | |||
11:45 | Kris Dunn defensive rebound | |||
11:31 | Simone Fontecchio misses three point jump shot | |||
11:29 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
11:10 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point stepback jump shot (Jalen Williams assists) | 2-0 | |
10:51 | +2 | Collin Sexton makes two point floating jump shot | 2-2 | |
10:35 | Josh Giddey misses two point jump shot | |||
10:31 | Simone Fontecchio defensive rebound | |||
10:23 | John Collins turnover (traveling) | |||
10:14 | Chet Holmgren misses two point jump shot | |||
10:13 | Josh Giddey offensive rebound | |||
10:13 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point floating jump shot | 4-2 | |
10:13 | John Collins shooting foul (Josh Giddey draws the foul) | |||
10:13 | +1 | Josh Giddey makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 5-2 | |
10:01 | +2 | John Collins makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Kris Dunn assists) | 5-4 | |
9:51 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point bank jump shot (Josh Giddey assists) | 7-4 | |
9:51 | Kris Dunn shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | |||
9:51 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 8-4 | |
9:37 | +3 | Lauri Markkanen makes three point jump shot (Collin Sexton assists) | 8-7 | |
9:24 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point reverse layup (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 10-7 | |
9:18 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shooting foul (John Collins draws the foul) | |||
9:18 | +1 | John Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 10-8 | |
9:18 | +1 | John Collins makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-9 | |
9:04 | Chet Holmgren turnover (bad pass) (Simone Fontecchio steals) | |||
9:01 | Simone Fontecchio turnover (bad pass) (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander steals) | |||
8:57 | Jalen Williams misses three point running jump shot | |||
8:54 | John Collins defensive rebound | |||
8:48 | Jalen Williams blocks Collin Sexton's two point running layup | |||
8:45 | Cason Wallace defensive rebound | |||
8:41 | +2 | Cason Wallace makes two point running layup | 12-9 | |
8:26 | Kris Dunn turnover (bad pass) (Josh Giddey steals) | |||
8:22 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses three point running jump shot | |||
8:20 | Jazz defensive rebound | |||
8:05 | Lauri Markkanen misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
8:02 | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | |||
7:58 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point running dunk (Josh Giddey assists) | 14-9 | |
7:58 | Jazz 60 second timeout | |||
7:43 | Collin Sexton misses two point jump shot | |||
7:39 | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | |||
7:35 | +3 | Cason Wallace makes three point running jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 17-9 | |
7:23 | John Collins misses three point jump shot | |||
7:20 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
7:20 | Kris Dunn personal foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | |||
7:01 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point pullup jump shot | 19-9 | |
6:48 | +2 | Simone Fontecchio makes two point alley-oop dunk (Kris Dunn assists) | 19-11 | |
6:31 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point driving finger roll layup (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 21-11 | |
6:18 | +2 | John Collins makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Collin Sexton assists) | 21-13 | |
6:06 | Kris Dunn shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | |||
6:06 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
6:06 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
6:06 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-13 | |
5:53 | +2 | Jordan Clarkson makes two point pullup jump shot (John Collins assists) | 22-15 | |
5:33 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point driving floating jump shot (Jalen Williams assists) | 24-15 | |
5:23 | Lauri Markkanen misses three point jump shot | |||
5:19 | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | |||
5:11 | +3 | Cason Wallace makes three point jump shot (Josh Giddey assists) | 27-15 | |
4:56 | Jordan Clarkson turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Williams steals) | |||
4:53 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point running dunk | 29-15 | |
4:36 | Keyonte George turnover (lost ball) (Jaylin Williams steals) | |||
4:31 | Jalen Williams misses two point running layup | |||
4:30 | Jaylin Williams offensive rebound | |||
4:28 | +3 | Isaiah Joe makes three point jump shot (Aaron Wiggins assists) | 32-15 | |
4:13 | Ochai Agbaji turnover (bad pass) (Jaylin Williams steals) | |||
4:06 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:02 | Isaiah Joe offensive rebound | |||
3:57 | Ochai Agbaji shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | |||
3:57 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 33-15 | |
3:57 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 34-15 | |
3:37 | +2 | Kelly Olynyk makes two point layup (Jordan Clarkson assists) | 34-17 | |
3:19 | Jaylin Williams turnover (lost ball) (Ochai Agbaji steals) | |||
3:13 | +3 | Keyonte George makes three point running jump shot (Ochai Agbaji assists) | 34-20 | |
3:11 | Thunder 60 second timeout | |||
3:01 | Aaron Wiggins misses three point jump shot | |||
2:56 | Walker Kessler defensive rebound | |||
2:52 | Keyonte George misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
2:49 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
2:43 | +3 | Chet Holmgren makes three point running jump shot (Lindy Waters III assists) | 37-20 | |
2:25 | Lindy Waters III personal foul (Ochai Agbaji draws the foul) | |||
2:19 | Chet Holmgren blocks Keyonte George's two point driving layup | |||
2:19 | Jazz offensive rebound | |||
2:14 | Jordan Clarkson misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
2:10 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
1:51 | Chet Holmgren misses two point jump shot | |||
1:48 | Kelly Olynyk defensive rebound | |||
1:38 | +2 | Jordan Clarkson makes two point floating jump shot (Kelly Olynyk assists) | 37-22 | |
1:24 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
1:21 | Walker Kessler defensive rebound | |||
1:04 | +2 | Kelly Olynyk makes two point reverse layup (Keyonte George assists) | 37-24 | |
0:50 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point jump shot (Isaiah Joe assists) | 39-24 | |
0:33 | +2 | Jordan Clarkson makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Keyonte George assists) | 39-26 | |
0:33 | Isaiah Joe shooting foul (Jordan Clarkson draws the foul) | |||
0:33 | +1 | Jordan Clarkson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 39-27 | |
0:26 | Lindy Waters III misses three point jump shot | |||
0:23 | Kelly Olynyk defensive rebound | |||
0:06 | Jordan Clarkson misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
0:03 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:53 | Kelly Olynyk turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
11:47 | Kelly Olynyk personal foul (Aaron Wiggins draws the foul) | |||
11:40 | Vasilije Micic turnover (bad pass) (Ochai Agbaji steals) | |||
11:38 | +2 | Ochai Agbaji makes two point running layup | 39-29 | |
11:38 | Vasilije Micic shooting foul (Ochai Agbaji draws the foul) | |||
11:38 | +1 | Ochai Agbaji makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 39-30 | |
11:20 | Walker Kessler blocks Kenrich Williams's two point reverse layup | |||
11:16 | Kenrich Williams offensive rebound | |||
11:15 | +3 | Jalen Williams makes three point jump shot (Aaron Wiggins assists) | 42-30 | |
11:07 | +2 | Collin Sexton makes two point driving layup (Jordan Clarkson assists) | 42-32 | |
10:52 | Kenrich Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
10:51 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
10:51 | Jordan Clarkson personal foul (Loose ball) (Vasilije Micic draws the foul) | |||
10:45 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point driving floating jump shot (Aaron Wiggins assists) | 44-32 | |
10:31 | Chet Holmgren shooting foul (Ochai Agbaji draws the foul) | |||
10:31 | +1 | Ochai Agbaji makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 44-33 | |
10:31 | Ochai Agbaji misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
10:29 | Thunder defensive rebound | |||
10:29 | Kelly Olynyk personal foul (Loose ball) (Kenrich Williams draws the foul) | |||
10:11 | +2 | Aaron Wiggins makes two point reverse layup (Vasilije Micic assists) | 46-33 | |
9:58 | Collin Sexton misses two point driving reverse layup | |||
9:56 | Walker Kessler offensive rebound | |||
9:56 | +2 | Walker Kessler makes two point tip layup | 46-35 | |
9:49 | Chet Holmgren turnover (lost ball) | |||
9:49 | Chet Holmgren personal foul (Loose ball) (Collin Sexton draws the foul) | |||
9:29 | Aaron Wiggins blocks Kelly Olynyk's two point floating jump shot | |||
9:25 | Kenrich Williams defensive rebound | |||
9:10 | +2 | Kenrich Williams makes two point driving layup (Chet Holmgren assists) | 48-35 | |
8:58 | Kelly Olynyk misses three point jump shot | |||
8:56 | Walker Kessler offensive rebound | |||
8:54 | +3 | Collin Sexton makes three point jump shot (Walker Kessler assists) | 48-38 | |
8:39 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point pullup jump shot (Kenrich Williams assists) | 50-38 | |
8:20 | Jordan Clarkson misses two point floating jump shot | |||
8:18 | Walker Kessler offensive rebound | |||
8:16 | +3 | Jordan Clarkson makes three point jump shot (Kelly Olynyk assists) | 50-41 | |
8:01 | Jalen Williams misses two point driving layup | |||
7:59 | Ochai Agbaji defensive rebound | |||
7:39 | Collin Sexton turnover (bad pass) (Kenrich Williams steals) | |||
7:34 | +2 | Vasilije Micic makes two point running layup (Kenrich Williams assists) | 52-41 | |
7:32 | Jazz 60 second timeout | |||
7:24 | Ochai Agbaji turnover (back court violation) | |||
7:12 | +2 | Kenrich Williams makes two point layup (Chet Holmgren assists) | 54-41 | |
6:59 | Aaron Wiggins shooting foul (Collin Sexton draws the foul) | |||
6:59 | +1 | Collin Sexton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 54-42 | |
6:59 | +1 | Collin Sexton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 54-43 | |
6:44 | +2 | Kenrich Williams makes two point driving dunk (Josh Giddey assists) | 56-43 | |
6:35 | Collin Sexton misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
6:31 | Jalen Williams defensive rebound | |||
6:25 | +2 | Cason Wallace makes two point driving layup (Josh Giddey assists) | 58-43 | |
5:59 | +3 | Collin Sexton makes three point jump shot (Lauri Markkanen assists) | 58-46 | |
5:45 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point turnaround bank jump shot (Aaron Wiggins assists) | 60-46 | |
5:24 | Jordan Clarkson misses three point jump shot | |||
5:20 | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | |||
5:11 | John Collins blocks Josh Giddey's two point layup | |||
5:11 | Jazz defensive rebound | |||
4:59 | +2 | Lauri Markkanen makes two point floating jump shot (Jordan Clarkson assists) | 60-48 | |
4:59 | Cason Wallace shooting foul (Lauri Markkanen draws the foul) | |||
4:59 | John Collins turnover (lane violation) | |||
4:50 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander offensive foul (Collin Sexton draws the foul) | |||
4:50 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turnover (offensive foul) | |||
4:31 | Simone Fontecchio misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
4:28 | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | |||
4:24 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point running layup | 62-48 | |
4:11 | +3 | Jordan Clarkson makes three point jump shot (Lauri Markkanen assists) | 62-51 | |
3:54 | Isaiah Joe misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
3:52 | John Collins defensive rebound | |||
3:44 | Josh Giddey shooting foul (John Collins draws the foul) | |||
3:44 | +1 | John Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 62-52 | |
3:44 | +1 | John Collins makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 62-53 | |
3:26 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
3:24 | John Collins defensive rebound | |||
3:18 |