Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points to lift the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 132-111 home win over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.
The Thunder have won nine consecutive games, keeping alive the chance of becoming the third team in NBA history to win 70 games.
Oklahoma City (62-12) would need to win out to join the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors and 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.
The Thunder are two wins away from tying the franchise mark for most wins in a season, set in 1995-96 when the team was in Seattle.
It was Oklahoma City’s 48th win of 10 or more points this season and the Thunder tied the NBA record for most wins against the opposing conference in NBA history.
Oklahoma City is 27-1 against Eastern Conference opponents this season.
The Pacers (43-31) have dropped two of their last three after a five-game winning streak and are only one game ahead of the fifth-place Detroit Pistons in the East.
After trailing by 17 earlier in the quarter, the Pacers cut the deficit to 10 with less than five minutes remaining in the third.
But Oklahoma City ended the quarter on a 21-9 run to take control entering the fourth.
Jalen Williams scored the first nine of those points. Williams, who returned in Thursday’s win over Memphis after missing seven consecutive games with a hip injury, finished with 18 points with six assists.
Luguentz Dort added 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field with six 3-pointers. Isaiah Joe added 19 off the bench with five 3-pointers.
It was Gilgeous-Alexander’s 47th game this season with 30 or more points – a dozen more than another other player in the NBA. Oklahoma City is averaging 123 points per game during its winning streak.
The Thunder grabbed the lead for good late in the second quarter with a 20-5 run to go up by 14.
Gilgeous-Alexander had four of his eight assists during that critical stretch. He also finished with seven rebounds and no turnovers — his second consecutive game without a turnover.
Indiana missed all six of its 3-pointers in the second quarter.
Tyrese Haliburton led seven Pacers in double-figures with 18 points. Andrew Nembhard added 16, Obi Toppin had 12 and Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner chipped in 11 apiece.
–Field Level Media
