Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points while leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 107-101 home victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.
The Thunder won their fifth consecutive game to start the season.
Oklahoma City did it, on the second night of a back-to-back, without Chet Holmgren. The big man, who played a big role in the Thunder’s Monday win at Dallas, sat out the Tuesday game due to back soreness.
The Thunder cut what had been a 10-point deficit to one early in the fourth quarter on five consecutive points from Ajay Mitchell.
The Kings quickly answered with a turnaround jumper from Malik Monk, then stretched the lead back to seven midway through the quarter.
Then Oklahoma City ripped off a 14-2 run to take control.
Gilgeous-Alexander had seven points and an assist during the final six minutes to finish 14 of 26 from the floor with nine rebounds.
Aaron Wiggins and Mitchell finished with 18 points each in the win.
While Oklahoma City was without Holmgren, it did have Alex Caruso back for the first time since the season opener. He scored eight points in 27 minutes.
The Kings shot 28 fewer free throws than the Lakers in their Sunday loss to Los Angeles, but turned the tables Tuesday to lead much of the game.
Sacramento attempted 21 free throws, while the Thunder attempted a season-low 10.
The Kings were led by 23 points from Zach LaVine, who had scored at least 30 points in each of Sacramento’s first three games of the season.
DeMar DeRozan added 19, Russell Westbrook 16 and Domantas Sabonis had 10 points and 18 rebounds.
The Thunder led by one nearly five minutes into the third quarter when Sacramento reeled off an 11-0 run.
Oklahoma City missed six consecutive shots during the stretch, with one turnover. But then the Thunder began their run with a pullup jumper from Gilgeous-Alexander and a finger roll from Mitchell.
Oklahoma City took the lead with 2:33 remaining on Luguentz Dort’s 3-pointer off a feed from Gilgeous-Alexander.
Sacramento, playing on the first night of a back-to-back, was just 6 of 18 from the floor in the fourth.
–Field Level Media
