Shai Gilgeous-Alexander powered the Oklahoma City Thunder to a dominant 132-111 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night, extending their winning streak to nine games.
The league’s leading scorer finished with 33 points, making 10 of 23 field goals and sinking 10 of 12 free throws. Lu Dort added 22 points while connecting on 6 of 7 three-pointers, and Jalen Williams contributed 18 points as Oklahoma City (62-12) maintained its grip on the NBA’s best record.
Indiana (43-31), which had won six of its previous seven games, struggled against the Thunder’s top-ranked defense. Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 18 points, while Andrew Nembhard chipped in 16.
Even without Chet Holmgren, who sat out with a left hip injury, Oklahoma City controlled the game from the start. The Thunder shot 51.1% from the field and committed just nine turnovers while outscoring Indiana in all four quarters.
The Pacers, who scored 162 points in their previous outing against Washington, couldn’t keep pace with the Western Conference leaders. Indiana shot just 44.8% from the field and made only 14 of 42 three-point attempts.
Isaiah Joe provided a key spark off the Thunder bench, hitting five three-pointers and finishing with 19 points.
Gilgeous-Alexander started slow, making just 6 of 18 shots through three quarters, but he turned it on late by hitting 4 of 5 field goals in the fourth. His efficiency down the stretch helped seal the win as the Thunder cruised in the final minutes.
Oklahoma City also had to overcome an in-game injury, as Isaiah Hartenstein exited at halftime with left hip soreness. Despite his absence, the Thunder still managed to outscore Indiana 71-62 after the break.
Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner each scored 11 points for the Pacers, but Indiana’s frontcourt struggled against Oklahoma City’s size and physicality. The Thunder won the rebounding battle 47-43 and outscored the Pacers 50-38 in the paint.
The victory gave Oklahoma City a three-game lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the race for the NBA’s top overall record with eight games left in the regular season. If they maintain their position, the Thunder will secure homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.
Indiana remains fourth in the Eastern Conference but faces pressure from both the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks in the fight for homecourt in the first round. With just eight games remaining, every result is crucial in the tight playoff race.
