Shai Gilgeous-Alexander collected 27 points and 10 assists to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 127-101 win over the visiting Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.
The Thunder have won 20 of their past 23 games overall and 12 straight in Oklahoma City.
While Gilgeous-Alexander returned after missing Friday’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the Thunder were without Jalen Williams for the first time this season. Williams missed the game with a right hip strain.
Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t show any ill effects from the wrist sprain that kept him out on Friday, hanging off the rim for several seconds after a first-quarter dunk.
The Nets missed their first eight shots, failing to convert a field-goal attempt until the 7:29 mark of the first quarter.
While Brooklyn struggled offensively early, Oklahoma City got off to a hot start, primarily from the perimeter.
Oklahoma City hit nine 3-pointers (on 13 attempts) in the first quarter, getting a 4-for-5 showing from beyond the arc from Isaiah Joe in the first 12 minutes of action.
Brooklyn was just 2 of 14 from beyond the arc in the first quarter, and the Thunder led by as many as 27 points in the period.
Brooklyn didn’t fade away quickly, though, cutting its deficit to 12, 51-39, on a triple from Ziaire Williams with 6:02 to go in the second quarter.
However, Oklahoma City ended up leading 69-49 at the break, and the Nets never got closer than 13 the rest of the way.
With the game well in hand, Gilgeous-Alexander, who also had four steals, didn’t play in the fourth quarter.
Joe scored 24 points — going 8-for-10 from beyond the arc.
Oklahoma City shot 55.2 percent from the floor, its third-best field-goal percentage in a game this season.
Cameron Johnson returned for the Nets after missing the previous two games and seven of the previous eight with an ankle sprain.
Brooklyn is winless in the nine games that Johnson has missed this season.
Tyrese Martin and Johnson led Brooklyn with 15 points apiece.
The Nets lost their third straight game and fell for the 19th time in 24 games.
–Field Level Media
