Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, shooting 9-of-13 from the field and 10-of-12 from the free-throw line, as the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Utah Jazz 144-112 on Friday at the Delta Center. The Thunder used a 33-4 run spanning the third quarter to turn a halftime deficit into a commanding lead.
Isaiah Joe contributed 16 points and Jaylin Williams hit five 3-pointers for a season-high 15 points, helping Oklahoma City reach 61.4% shooting from the field and a remarkable 62.2% from beyond the arc. The Thunder forced 28 Utah turnovers, converting them into 44 points.
Utah’s Keyonte George scored 20 points and Lauri Markkanen added 19, but the Jazz could not overcome Oklahoma City’s pressure defense. Despite leading 84-77 midway through the third, Utah was overwhelmed by a 22-point surge that gave the Thunder a 36-point advantage late in the game.
The Jazz managed 44 first-quarter points, the most any team has scored in a single quarter against Oklahoma City this season, but the Thunder’s third-quarter dominance was decisive. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 12 points during the period as Oklahoma City outscored Utah 43-20.
Oklahoma City moves to 16-1 overall, extending its winning streak to eight and improving to 2-0 in NBA Cup play. The Thunder will host the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday. Utah falls to 5-10 overall and 0-3 in tournament play and will face the Los Angeles Lakers at home on Sunday.
