Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points to propel the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 99-83 win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night in the NBA Cup.
With the victory, the Thunder improved to 11-2 on the season, continuing their dominant start despite the absence of Chet Holmgren.
Gilgeous-Alexander was instrumental in the win, shooting 11 of 25 from the field, while also contributing 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
Lu Dort added 15 points and 9 rebounds, and Jalen Williams provided 14 points and 8 rebounds to help secure the comfortable victory.
Phoenix, playing without key players Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Grayson Allen, struggled throughout the game.
Josh Okogie led the Suns with 15 points and 9 rebounds, while Devin Booker, who was clearly off his game, finished with just 12 points on 2 of 10 shooting from the field.
The Thunder dominated in almost every aspect of the game, out-rebounding the Suns 53-50 and shooting a more efficient 39.6% from the field compared to Phoenix’s 29.3%.
Oklahoma City’s defense was also stifling, holding the Suns to just 24.3% shooting from beyond the arc.
The game was mostly one-sided, with Oklahoma City holding a 25-point lead in the second half. Phoenix briefly cut the deficit to 45-36 midway through the second quarter, but that was as close as they would get. The Thunder responded with a strong run, never allowing the Suns to mount a serious comeback.
Oklahoma City’s strong team play was evident, with multiple players contributing to the score. Isaiah Joe scored 11 points, while Aaron Wiggins and Ajay Mitchell added 8 and 7 points, respectively, off the bench.
Even without Holmgren, who is expected to miss at least eight weeks due to a pelvic injury, the Thunder showed depth and resilience.
Phoenix’s shooting struggles were a major factor in the loss. The Suns made only 9 of 37 three-pointers, and Booker’s cold shooting night made it difficult for Phoenix to keep up. Jusuf Nurkic also had an off night, finishing with just 4 points on 0 of 7 shooting.
