Gilgeous-Alexander scores 34 as Thunder beat Timberwolves 129-106
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points, Jalen Williams added 21 and the Oklahoma City Thunder made 18 shots from 3-point range Tuesday night in a 129-106 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Chet Holmgren and Lu Dort each added 20 points for the Thunder (19-9), who went 18 for 39 (46.2%) on 3s and forced 24 Minnesota turnovers that led to 23 points.
“I think we played together on both ends of the floor, for the most part,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished 14 of 19 from the field and dished out a team-high nine assists. “When we do that and trust that, things go our way, usually.”
Dort was 5 of 6 from beyond the arc. Oklahoma City shot 60.5% from the field and led by as many as 25 in the second half of its sixth victory in eight games.
“I thought we really were intelligent with our attacks,” coach Mark Daigneault said. “They’re a really hard team to crack, obviously, and you’ve got to be really intentional, and I thought our guys did a great job executing."
Anthony Edwards had 25 points to pace Minnesota (22-7). Mike Conley added 17 and Karl-Anthony Towns had 16.
Towns missed Minnesota’s 110-98 win over Sacramento on Saturday with soreness in his left knee. He entered Tuesday night averaging 22.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
Josh Giddey returned to the starting lineup for the Thunder after missing a game with a left ankle sprain. He had 10 points and seven assists.
The Thunder led 86-76 with 6:27 left in the third quarter when Holmgren picked up his fourth foul and went to the bench.
Giddey sat with three fouls about two minutes later, but OKC increased its lead to 95-83 on a basket by Gilgeous-Alexander with 2:43 left. Another 3 by Dort - his fifth of the game - following a steal by Cason Wallace made 98-83, the Thunder’s largest lead to that point.
But back came Minnesota, which cut it to 100-91 on a 3 by Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who is Gilgeous-Alexander’s cousin. That was as close as the Timberwolves got.
"I just thought we had great intensity,” Daigneault said. “I thought both teams were outscoring each other in the first period of the game. As the game wore on, we tightened on that end of the floor. Really in the second half did a great job, too. And I thought the turnovers were a byproduct of that.”
Williams made consecutive 3-pointers early in the fourth to extend the Thunder's lead to 108-91 with 9:51 remaining.
Oklahoma City led 66-60 at halftime after the teams combined to make 16 3-pointers, including nine by the Thunder.
OKC led by 10 in the second quarter following back-to-back 3s by Dort with 3:30 remaining. Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City, which shot 57.1% in the first two quarters, with 16 points at the break. Williams added 15 points and Dort had 11.
Edwards led the Timberwolves - who shot 53.8% from 3-point range (7 of 13) - with 14 first-half points.
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: Host the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.
Thunder: Host the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Rudy Gobert vs. Chet Holmgren (Josh Giddey gains possession) | |||
11:42 | Luguentz Dort misses three point jump shot | |||
11:39 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
11:24 | Jaden McDaniels misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
11:21 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
11:13 | Chet Holmgren misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
11:10 | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | |||
11:06 | Karl-Anthony Towns turnover (bad pass) (Luguentz Dort steals) | |||
10:59 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point running pullup jump shot (Josh Giddey assists) | 0-2 | |
10:43 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving layup (Mike Conley assists) | 2-2 | |
10:34 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point pullup jump shot (Josh Giddey assists) | 2-4 | |
10:16 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | |||
10:16 | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 3-4 | |
10:16 | Anthony Edwards misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
10:14 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
10:11 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turnover (lost ball) (Jaden McDaniels steals) | |||
10:07 | Chet Holmgren shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | |||
10:07 | Anthony Edwards misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
10:07 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
10:07 | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-4 | |
9:52 | Jaden McDaniels personal foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | |||
9:48 | Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot | |||
9:45 | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | |||
9:37 | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point driving layup | 6-4 | |
9:27 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point pullup jump shot (Josh Giddey assists) | 6-6 | |
9:07 | +3 | Mike Conley makes three point stepback jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 9-6 | |
8:58 | Karl-Anthony Towns shooting foul (Jalen Williams draws the foul) | |||
8:58 | +1 | Jalen Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-7 | |
8:58 | +1 | Jalen Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-8 | |
8:42 | Anthony Edwards misses three point jump shot | |||
8:39 | Luguentz Dort defensive rebound | |||
8:27 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point driving dunk (Josh Giddey assists) | 9-10 | |
8:14 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander personal foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | |||
8:08 | Anthony Edwards misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:07 | Thunder defensive rebound | |||
7:53 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point cutting layup (Chet Holmgren assists) | 9-12 | |
7:36 | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point alley-oop layup (Mike Conley assists) | 11-12 | |
7:24 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point cutting dunk (Josh Giddey assists) | 11-14 | |
7:04 | Jaden McDaniels turnover (traveling) | |||
6:51 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
6:46 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
6:37 | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point driving reverse layup | 13-14 | |
6:29 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses three point jump shot | |||
6:29 | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | |||
6:18 | Anthony Edwards misses two point turnaround fadeaway bank jump shot | |||
6:16 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
6:13 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point running dunk (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 13-16 | |
6:00 | Rudy Gobert misses two point alley-oop dunk | |||
5:57 | Luguentz Dort defensive rebound | |||
5:51 | Josh Giddey turnover (lost ball) (Anthony Edwards steals) | |||
5:47 | Luguentz Dort shooting foul (Jaden McDaniels draws the foul) | |||
5:47 | Thunder 60 second timeout | |||
5:47 | +1 | Jaden McDaniels makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-16 | |
5:47 | +1 | Jaden McDaniels makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-16 | |
5:35 | +2 | Luguentz Dort makes two point cutting layup (Josh Giddey assists) | 15-18 | |
5:18 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point hook shot (Jaden McDaniels assists) | 17-18 | |
5:06 | +3 | Jalen Williams makes three point jump shot (Chet Holmgren assists) | 17-21 | |
4:39 | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point floating jump shot | 19-21 | |
4:26 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point driving finger roll layup | 19-23 | |
4:26 | Jaden McDaniels shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | |||
4:26 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 19-24 | |
4:13 | +2 | Kyle Anderson makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Nickeil Alexander-Walker assists) | 21-24 | |
3:59 | Josh Giddey misses three point jump shot | |||
3:56 | Naz Reid defensive rebound | |||
3:44 | Naz Reid misses two point turnaround bank hook shot | |||
3:41 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
3:39 | Anthony Edwards shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | |||
3:39 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-25 | |
3:39 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-26 | |
3:22 | +2 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes two point driving layup (Anthony Edwards assists) | 23-26 | |
3:00 | +3 | Isaiah Joe makes three point jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 23-29 | |
2:45 | Kyle Anderson turnover (lost ball) (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander steals) | |||
2:38 | +3 | Kenrich Williams makes three point jump shot (Isaiah Joe assists) | 23-32 | |
2:36 | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | |||
2:14 | +3 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 26-32 | |
2:00 | +3 | Luguentz Dort makes three point jump shot (Kenrich Williams assists) | 26-35 | |
1:46 | +3 | Anthony Edwards makes three point jump shot (Kyle Anderson assists) | 29-35 | |
1:27 | Timberwolves technical foul (Defensive three second) | |||
1:27 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses technical free throw 1 of 1 | |||
1:27 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
1:20 | +3 | Isaiah Joe makes three point jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 29-38 | |
0:55 | +3 | Naz Reid makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 32-38 | |
0:31 | Thunder turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
0:19 | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | |||
0:16 | Luguentz Dort defensive rebound | |||
0:03 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | |||
0:03 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 32-39 | |
0:03 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-40 | |
0:00 | +3 | Anthony Edwards makes three point pullup jump shot | 35-40 | |
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:46 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses two point layup | |||
11:44 | Karl-Anthony Towns offensive rebound | |||
11:44 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point putback layup | 37-40 | |
11:27 | +2 | Cason Wallace makes two point layup (Vasilije Micic assists) | 37-42 | |
11:16 | Jump ball. Kenrich Williams vs. Karl-Anthony Towns (Aaron Wiggins gains possession) | |||
11:13 | Karl-Anthony Towns turnover (lost ball) (Kenrich Williams steals) | |||
11:10 | Aaron Wiggins misses three point running jump shot | |||
11:06 | Mike Conley defensive rebound | |||
10:48 | +2 | Kyle Anderson makes two point turnaround jump shot | 39-42 | |
10:48 | Aaron Wiggins shooting foul (Kyle Anderson draws the foul) | |||
10:48 | +1 | Kyle Anderson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 40-42 | |
10:27 | +2 | Vasilije Micic makes two point driving layup (Jalen Williams assists) | 40-44 | |
10:10 | Karl-Anthony Towns offensive foul (Charge) (Kenrich Williams draws the foul) | |||
10:10 | Karl-Anthony Towns turnover (offensive foul) | |||
10:10 | Karl-Anthony Towns technical foul | |||
10:10 | +1 | Jalen Williams makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 40-45 | |
9:57 | Jalen Williams turnover (lost ball) (Nickeil Alexander-Walker steals) | |||
9:46 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
9:44 | Kenrich Williams defensive rebound | |||
9:28 | +3 | Kenrich Williams makes three point jump shot (Vasilije Micic assists) | 40-48 | |
9:09 | +3 | Mike Conley makes three point jump shot (Nickeil Alexander-Walker assists) | 43-48 | |
8:54 | Cason Wallace misses three point jump shot | |||
8:51 | Aaron Wiggins offensive rebound | |||
8:49 | +3 | Jalen Williams makes three point jump shot (Vasilije Micic assists) | 43-51 | |
8:35 | Vasilije Micic shooting foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | |||
8:35 | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 44-51 | |
8:35 | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 45-51 | |
8:15 | Jalen Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
8:10 | Naz Reid defensive rebound | |||
8:10 | Naz Reid turnover (out of bounds step) | |||
7:58 | Chet Holmgren misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
7:52 | Naz Reid defensive rebound | |||
7:33 | +3 | Naz Reid makes three point jump shot (Nickeil Alexander-Walker assists) | 48-51 | |
7:21 | Thunder 60 second timeout | |||
7:05 | Vasilije Micic misses three point jump shot | |||
7:05 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
7:05 | Thunder turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
6:49 | Mike Conley misses two point floating jump shot | |||
6:45 | Aaron Wiggins defensive rebound | |||
6:32 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point cutting layup (Aaron Wiggins assists) | 48-53 | |
6:21 | Jaden McDaniels turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
6:11 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turnover (traveling) | |||
5:47 | Chet Holmgren shooting foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | |||
5:47 | +1 | Rudy Gobert makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 49-53 | |
5:47 | +1 | Rudy Gobert makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 50-53 | |
5:38 | Vasilije Micic misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
5:37 | Timberwolves defensive rebound | |||
5:28 | Anthony Edwards offensive foul (Isaiah Joe draws the foul) | |||
5:28 | Anthony Edwards turnover (offensive foul) | |||
5:13 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
5:10 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
4:48 | Troy Brown Jr. misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
4:47 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
4:47 | Timberwolves turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
4:38 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point driving finger roll layup | 50-55 | |
4:20 | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point driving dunk (Troy Brown Jr. assists) | 52-55 | |
4:18 | Jaden McDaniels technical foul (Rim hanging) | |||
4:18 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 52-56 | |
4:08 | +3 | Luguentz Dort makes three point jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 52-59 | |
3:52 | Jaden McDaniels misses three point jump shot | |||
3:49 | Luguentz Dort defensive rebound | |||
3:45 | Kyle Anderson personal foul (Isaiah Joe draws the foul) | |||
3:38 | +3 | Luguentz Dort makes three point jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 52-62 | |
3:23 | Luguentz Dort shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | |||
3:23 | Anthony Edwards misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
3:23 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
3:23 | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 53-62 | |
3:18 | Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot | |||
3:14 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
2:57 | Jaden McDaniels misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
2:56 | Thunder defensive rebound | |||
2:56 | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | |||
2:44 | Jalen Williams misses two point driving layup | |||
2:42 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
2:30 | Rudy Gobert offensive foul (Isaiah Joe draws the foul) | |||
2:30 | Rudy Gobert turnover (offensive foul) | |||
2:09 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point driving layup (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 53-64 | |
1:49 | Isaiah Joe personal foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | |||
1:49 | +1 | Rudy Gobert makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 54-64 | |
1:49 | +1 | Rudy Gobert makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 55-64 | |
1:26 | Chet Holmgren misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
1:23 | Timberwolves defensive rebound | |||
1:13 | Isaiah Joe shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | |||
1:13 | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 56-64 | |
1:13 | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 57-64 | |
1:08 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
1:05 | Timberwolves defensive rebound | |||
0:45 | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point dunk (Karl-Anthony Towns assists) | 59-64 | |
0:36 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
0:33 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
0:30 | Jalen Williams shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | |||
0:30 | Anthony |