Gilgeous-Alexander has 36 as Thunder win 5th straight with 123-110 victory over Rockets
HOUSTON (AP) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 points and Chet Holmgren added 29 to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 123-110 victory over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night.
The Thunder won their fifth straight to move into a tie with Minnesota for first place in the Western Conference.
Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault was impressed with how his team responded after falling behind by 16 points in the second quarter.
“We had some poise, but it was more urgency,” he said. “I thought tonight was a recognition of, if we kept playing like that, they could have run us off the floor.”
Oklahoma City was up by eight points with less than seven minutes left before scoring the next nine points, capped by 3-pointers from Jalen Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander to push the advantage to 115-98 with 3 ½ minutes to go.
Fred VanVleet and Jabari Smith Jr. had 20 points apiece for the Rockets in the first of consecutive games between these teams. Alperen Sengun added 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Smith led the team with 17 boards.
“They tightened up a little bit and we didn't execute as well as we needed to,” VanVleet said. “That's the way it goes sometimes.”
The teams meet again Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.
The Thunder held a four-point lead to start the fourth and used a 12-2 run to push their advantage to 99-85 with 9 ½ minutes to go. Holmgren had the first nine points in that span and had two dunks and a 3-pointer.
Houston got within 104-95 a couple of minutes later. Dillon Brooks and VanVleet both made 3s for Houston to trim the deficit, but the Rockets were unable to get any closer.
“Once we got the ball churning and moving… that got us flowing,” Holmgren said. “But it started with defense, getting stops and allowing us to get out in transition.”
The Rockets were up by nine with about eight minutes to go in the third before Oklahoma City used a 16-2 run to take an 80-75 lead with less than three minutes left in the quarter.
“The physicality we really amped up midway through the second quarter,” Daigneault said. “That was the game right there and we really kept it going in the second half.”
Williams started the run with a 3-pointer and Isaiah Joe added a 3 in that stretch to allow the Thunder to go on top.
The Rockets scored the next six points to regain the lead, but Oklahoma City ended the quarter with a 7-2 run to take an 87-83 lead in the fourth.
“Obviously you have to execute better offensively to give yourself a chance,” VanVleet said. “Scoring 21 in the third hurt us a little bit momentum-wise.”
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Chet Holmgren vs. Alperen Sengun (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gains possession) | ||
| 11:44 |  | Josh Giddey misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 11:43 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 11:29 | | Dillon Brooks misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 11:29 | | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | ||
| 11:16 | | Alperen Sengun kicked ball violation | ||
| 11:09 | | Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:08 | | Rockets defensive rebound | ||
| 10:57 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 10:56 | | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | ||
| 10:43 | | Jalen Green blocks Jalen Williams's two point driving layup | ||
| 10:43 | | Thunder offensive rebound | ||
| 10:34 | | Jalen Williams misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:33 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 10:24 | | Jalen Green misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 10:23 | | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | ||
| 10:15 | | +3 | Luguentz Dort makes three point jump shot (Chet Holmgren assists) | 3-0 |
| 9:58 | | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:58 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | ||
| 9:47 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 9:46 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 9:38 | | +3 | Alperen Sengun makes three point jump shot (Jalen Green assists) | 3-3 |
| 9:21 | | Jalen Green blocks Jalen Williams's two point driving layup | ||
| 9:21 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 9:16 | | +3 | Dillon Brooks makes three point running jump shot (Jalen Green assists) | 3-6 |
| 8:57 | | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point jump shot (Luguentz Dort assists) | 5-6 |
| 8:47 | | Alperen Sengun offensive foul (Luguentz Dort draws the foul) | ||
| 8:47 | | Alperen Sengun turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 8:37 | | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point cutting layup (Jalen Williams assists) | 7-6 |
| 8:28 | | Alperen Sengun misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:28 | | Jalen Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 8:16 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander offensive foul (Dillon Brooks draws the foul) | ||
| 8:16 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 8:07 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:05 | | Fred VanVleet offensive rebound | ||
| 7:51 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 7-8 |
| 7:33 | | +3 | Luguentz Dort makes three point jump shot (Jalen Williams assists) | 10-8 |
| 7:16 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 7:16 | | Jabari Smith Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 7:14 | | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point putback layup | 10-10 |
| 7:14 | | Josh Giddey shooting foul (Jabari Smith Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 7:14 | | +1 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 10-11 |
| 7:03 | | +3 | Luguentz Dort makes three point jump shot (Chet Holmgren assists) | 13-11 |
| 6:42 | | +3 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes three point jump shot (Dillon Brooks assists) | 13-14 |
| 6:28 | | Fred VanVleet shooting foul (Luguentz Dort draws the foul) | ||
| 6:28 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:28 | | +1 | Luguentz Dort makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-14 |
| 6:28 | | +1 | Luguentz Dort makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-14 |
| 6:18 | | Jalen Williams shooting foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul) | ||
| 6:18 | | +1 | Alperen Sengun makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-15 |
| 6:18 | | Alperen Sengun misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 6:18 | | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | ||
| 6:07 | | +3 | Jaylin Williams makes three point jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 18-15 |
| 5:51 | | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point jump shot (Jabari Smith Jr. assists) | 18-18 |
| 5:30 | | Luguentz Dort misses two point jump shot | ||
| 5:29 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 5:18 | | +3 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes three point jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 18-21 |
| 5:05 | | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point pullup jump shot | 20-21 |
| 4:47 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 4:46 | | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 4:33 | | Chet Holmgren turnover (lost ball) (Alperen Sengun steals) | ||
| 4:29 | | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point running pullup jump shot (Jabari Smith Jr. assists) | 20-24 |
| 4:28 | | Thunder 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:13 | | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point pullup jump shot (Jaylin Williams assists) | 22-24 |
| 3:55 | | Jalen Green misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:55 | | Alperen Sengun offensive rebound | ||
| 3:51 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 3:50 | | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 3:41 | | +3 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes three point stepback jump shot | 25-24 |
| 3:28 | | Dillon Brooks turnover (lost ball) (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander steals) | ||
| 3:22 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turnover (bad pass) (Amen Thompson steals) | ||
| 3:12 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point driving finger roll layup | 25-26 |
| 2:57 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point driving layup | ||
| 2:56 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 2:50 | | Fred VanVleet turnover (bad pass) (Isaiah Joe steals) | ||
| 2:41 | | Dillon Brooks shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | ||
| 2:41 | | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-26 |
| 2:41 | | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-26 |
| 2:30 | | +3 | Cam Whitmore makes three point jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 27-29 |
| 2:17 | | Amen Thompson blocks Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's two point driving dunk | ||
| 2:16 | | Amen Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 2:12 | | +2 | Cam Whitmore makes two point running dunk (Amen Thompson assists) | 27-31 |
| 1:56 | | Jaylin Williams misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:56 | | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | ||
| 1:47 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:45 | | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 1:33 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:32 | | Amen Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 1:12 | | Amen Thompson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:11 | | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 1:00 | | Cam Whitmore shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | ||
| 1:00 | | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-31 |
| 1:00 | | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-31 |
| 0:47 | | +3 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes three point jump shot (Aaron Holiday assists) | 29-34 |
| 0:28 | | Isaiah Joe misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:27 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 0:10 | | Cam Whitmore misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:09 | | Isaiah Joe defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point driving finger roll layup | 31-34 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:46 | | +2 | Aaron Holiday makes two point driving floating jump shot (Jeff Green assists) | 31-36 |
| 11:21 | | Jalen Williams misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:20 | | Amen Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 11:06 | | Cam Whitmore misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:05 | | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | ||
| 10:58 | | Cason Wallace misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 10:57 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 10:53 | | +2 | Cam Whitmore makes two point running layup (Jabari Smith Jr. assists) | 31-38 |
| 10:53 | | Gordon Hayward defensive goaltending violation | ||
| 10:34 | | Cason Wallace misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:33 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 10:22 | | Aaron Holiday misses two point driving layup | ||
| 10:21 | | Jabari Smith Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 10:19 | | Kenrich Williams personal foul (Amen Thompson draws the foul) | ||
| 10:13 | | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 31-40 |
| 10:13 | | Josh Giddey shooting foul (Amen Thompson draws the foul) | ||
| 10:13 | | Amen Thompson misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 10:11 | | Gordon Hayward defensive rebound | ||
| 10:00 | | Amen Thompson personal foul (Gordon Hayward draws the foul) | ||
| 9:46 | | Amen Thompson blocks Cason Wallace's three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 9:46 | | Thunder offensive rebound | ||
| 9:46 | | Thunder turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 9:26 | | Josh Giddey shooting foul (Amen Thompson draws the foul) | ||
| 9:26 | | +1 | Amen Thompson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-41 |
| 9:26 | | Amen Thompson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 9:25 | | Kenrich Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 9:09 | | Gordon Hayward misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 9:08 | | Amen Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 8:57 | | Cason Wallace blocks Aaron Holiday's two point driving layup | ||
| 8:57 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 8:55 | | Amen Thompson turnover (bad pass) (Josh Giddey steals) | ||
| 8:51 | | Cason Wallace misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 8:51 | | Gordon Hayward offensive rebound | ||
| 8:50 | | Cam Whitmore blocks Gordon Hayward's two point tip layup | ||
| 8:50 | | Gordon Hayward offensive rebound | ||
| 8:42 | | Jalen Williams misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:41 | | Cam Whitmore defensive rebound | ||
| 8:24 | | +2 | Aaron Holiday makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 31-43 |
| 8:10 | | +2 | Kenrich Williams makes two point pullup jump shot (Josh Giddey assists) | 33-43 |
| 7:52 | | +3 | Aaron Holiday makes three point stepback jump shot | 33-46 |
| 7:37 | | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 35-46 |
| 7:17 | | +2 | Cam Whitmore makes two point driving layup | 35-48 |
| 7:16 | | Thunder 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:04 | | +3 | Chet Holmgren makes three point jump shot (Jalen Williams assists) | 38-48 |
| 6:54 | | Alperen Sengun offensive foul (Charge) (Chet Holmgren draws the foul) | ||
| 6:54 | | Alperen Sengun turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 6:37 | | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point driving layup (Chet Holmgren assists) | 40-48 |
| 6:26 | | Chet Holmgren personal foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul) | ||
| 6:15 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point jump shot (Dillon Brooks assists) | 40-51 |
| 6:00 | | Chet Holmgren turnover (lost ball) (Fred VanVleet steals) | ||
| 5:57 | | Jalen Williams shooting foul (Cam Whitmore draws the foul) | ||
| 5:57 | | +1 | Cam Whitmore makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 40-52 |
| 5:57 | | +1 | Cam Whitmore makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 40-53 |
| 5:41 | | Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:40 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 5:29 | | Fred VanVleet misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 5:27 | | Cason Wallace defensive rebound | ||
| 5:23 | | Alperen Sengun personal foul (Gordon Hayward draws the foul) | ||
| 5:11 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 5:11 | | Thunder offensive rebound | ||
| 5:11 | | Dillon Brooks personal foul (Loose ball) (Chet Holmgren draws the foul) | ||
| 5:04 | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turnover (bad pass) (Jabari Smith Jr. steals) | ||
| 5:00 | | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point running layup | 40-55 |
| 5:00 | | Isaiah Joe shooting foul (Amen Thompson draws the foul) | ||
| 5:00 | | +1 | Amen Thompson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 40-56 |
| 4:43 | | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point driving finger roll layup | 42-56 |
| 4:27 | | Amen Thompson misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 4:26 | | Isaiah Joe defensive rebound | ||
| 4:17 | | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point driving layup | 44-56 |
| 3:55 | | Jalen Green misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 3:54 | | Luguentz Dort defensive rebound | ||
| 3:50 | | Aaron Wiggins misses two point running layup | ||
| 3:49 |