Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 31 points lead the Thunder past the Hornets 126-106
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is proving to be much more than one of the NBA's top scorers.
Sure, he scored 31 points to help the Oklahoma City Thunder roll past the Charlotte Hornets 126-106 on Friday night. But the league's No. 3 scorer also had nine assists, five steals and three blocks.
Gilgeous-Alexander leads the league in steals with 2.3 steals per game. Lu Dort, Oklahoma City's defensive stopper, is impressed with his teammate's play on that end.
“He’s really vocal on the defensive side, just calling the coverages and all that, too," Dort said. "Just him being aggressive, it just feeds off on the other guys on the team. One, just our best player doing that, and also, it is great that he’s so good at this and he does it a lot so we can go run in transition.”
Gilgeous-Alexander did his usual thing on offense as an efficient shooter. He made 11 of 15 field goals and scored at least 30 points for the ninth straight game.
He prioritized setting others up early with four assists before he scored a basket.
“On the offensive end, I thought tonight he was really on one early,” Daigneault said. "He had as good of a blend of his play and plays for other guys as he’s (had) all season. He had an unbelievable balance there in the first half of the game.”
Chet Holmgren added 16 points for the Thunder, who have won two straight and seven of nine. Oklahoma City moved into a tie for first place in the Western Conference with Minnesota at 34-15.
Oklahoma City's offensive output came despite missing forward Jalen Williams, out with a sprained right ankle, and guard Isaiah Joe, sidelined with a bruised sternum. Williams is the team's No. 2 scorer and Joe leads the Thunder in 3-point baskets.
Rookie Brandon Miller scored 28 points and Bryce McGowens added 15 for the Hornets, who lost their sixth straight. LaMelo Ball missed his fourth straight game for the Hornets with a right ankle overuse injury.
It took 2 1/2 minutes for Charlotte to score at the start of the game. Gilgeous-Alexander had 10 points, six assists, three steals, two blocks and two rebounds in the first quarter to help the Thunder take a 39-19 lead.
In the second quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander stole the ball, then delivered a perfect bounce pass behind his back to a trailing Cason Wallace, who finished the fast break with a two-handed jam to give Oklahoma City a 68-40 lead.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored and was fouled with three seconds left in the first half. His free throw gave the Thunder a 73-42 lead at the break. The Thunder shot 69.2% from the field in the first half.
Aaron Wiggins hit a 3-pointer in the final second of the third quarter to put Oklahoma City ahead 105-72.
Charlotte center Nick Richards said the Hornets' approach made things too easy for the Thunder.
“Instead of us hitting guys first, we let them hit us first and we try to fight back into it," he said.
UP NEXT
Hornets: Host Indiana on Sunday night.
Thunder: Host Toronto on Sunday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Nick Richards vs. Chet Holmgren (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gains possession) | |||
11:40 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point cutting finger roll layup (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 0-2 | |
11:21 | Miles Bridges misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
11:20 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
11:14 | +3 | Chet Holmgren makes three point jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 0-5 | |
11:00 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander blocks Cody Martin's three point jump shot | |||
10:59 | Hornets offensive rebound | |||
10:56 | Brandon Miller turnover (bad pass) (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander steals) | |||
10:44 | Cason Wallace turnover (bad pass) (Brandon Miller steals) | |||
10:34 | Cason Wallace personal foul (Nick Richards draws the foul) | |||
10:26 | Brandon Miller misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
10:24 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
10:09 | Josh Giddey misses three point jump shot | |||
10:06 | Miles Bridges defensive rebound | |||
9:57 | Miles Bridges turnover (bad pass) (Chet Holmgren steals) | |||
9:46 | Cason Wallace misses three point jump shot | |||
9:43 | Nick Richards defensive rebound | |||
9:31 | +3 | Brandon Miller makes three point jump shot (Miles Bridges assists) | 3-5 | |
9:09 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point driving floating jump shot (Luguentz Dort assists) | 3-7 | |
9:09 | Nick Richards defensive goaltending violation | |||
8:54 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander blocks Brandon Miller's two point driving floating jump shot | |||
8:51 | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | |||
8:48 | +3 | Cason Wallace makes three point running jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 3-10 | |
8:31 | +2 | Bryce McGowens makes two point pullup jump shot (Cody Martin assists) | 5-10 | |
8:19 | Cason Wallace misses three point jump shot | |||
8:15 | Bryce McGowens defensive rebound | |||
8:06 | Chet Holmgren blocks Miles Bridges's two point driving layup | |||
8:03 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
7:57 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point cutting dunk (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 5-12 | |
7:56 | Hornets 60 second timeout | |||
7:37 | Miles Bridges misses three point jump shot | |||
7:34 | Thunder defensive rebound | |||
7:15 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
7:11 | Miles Bridges defensive rebound | |||
7:07 | Luguentz Dort blocks Nick Richards's two point running layup | |||
7:04 | Cason Wallace defensive rebound | |||
7:04 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point running dunk (Cason Wallace assists) | 5-14 | |
6:49 | Bryce McGowens misses three point jump shot | |||
6:46 | Cason Wallace defensive rebound | |||
6:39 | Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot | |||
6:33 | Nick Richards defensive rebound | |||
6:28 | Miles Bridges misses two point driving layup | |||
6:26 | Nick Richards offensive rebound | |||
6:26 | +2 | Nick Richards makes two point tip dunk | 7-14 | |
6:11 | +3 | Luguentz Dort makes three point jump shot (Chet Holmgren assists) | 7-17 | |
6:00 | +3 | Cody Martin makes three point pullup jump shot | 10-17 | |
5:47 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 10-19 | |
5:37 | Brandon Miller misses two point jump shot | |||
5:35 | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | |||
5:12 | Luguentz Dort misses three point jump shot | |||
5:09 | Nick Richards defensive rebound | |||
5:01 | Ish Smith misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:57 | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | |||
4:54 | Josh Giddey turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
4:38 | Ish Smith turnover (bad pass) (Cason Wallace steals) | |||
4:34 | +2 | Ousmane Dieng makes two point running dunk (Aaron Wiggins assists) | 10-21 | |
4:15 | +2 | Ish Smith makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 12-21 | |
4:04 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point driving layup | 12-23 | |
3:59 | Jaylin Williams personal foul (Nick Richards draws the foul) | |||
3:54 | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | |||
3:49 | Aaron Wiggins defensive rebound | |||
3:37 | +3 | Jaylin Williams makes three point jump shot (Aaron Wiggins assists) | 12-26 | |
3:19 | P.J. Washington turnover (lost ball) (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander steals) | |||
3:14 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point running layup | 12-28 | |
3:14 | Hornets 60 second timeout | |||
3:02 | Miles Bridges misses two point driving layup | |||
2:58 | Bryce McGowens offensive rebound | |||
2:58 | Bryce McGowens turnover (bad pass) (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander steals) | |||
2:54 | +3 | Ousmane Dieng makes three point running jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 12-31 | |
2:32 | +3 | Leaky Black makes three point jump shot (Ish Smith assists) | 15-31 | |
2:07 | +3 | Aaron Wiggins makes three point jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 15-34 | |
1:49 | +2 | P.J. Washington makes two point driving floating jump shot | 17-34 | |
1:32 | Aaron Wiggins misses three point jump shot | |||
1:28 | Ish Smith defensive rebound | |||
1:24 | +2 | Bryce McGowens makes two point running finger roll layup (Ish Smith assists) | 19-34 | |
1:11 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point pullup jump shot | 19-36 | |
0:55 | Bryce McGowens misses three point jump shot | |||
0:52 | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | |||
0:32 | +3 | Cason Wallace makes three point jump shot (Ousmane Dieng assists) | 19-39 | |
0:14 | Leaky Black misses two point cutting layup | |||
0:12 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:40 | P.J. Washington turnover (bad pass) (Aaron Wiggins steals) | |||
11:36 | +2 | Aaron Wiggins makes two point driving floating jump shot (Chet Holmgren assists) | 19-41 | |
11:36 | Ish Smith shooting foul (Aaron Wiggins draws the foul) | |||
11:36 | +1 | Aaron Wiggins makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 19-42 | |
11:17 | P.J. Washington misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
11:13 | Lindy Waters III defensive rebound | |||
11:03 | +3 | Lindy Waters III makes three point jump shot (Ousmane Dieng assists) | 19-45 | |
10:44 | +2 | Brandon Miller makes two point pullup jump shot (Leaky Black assists) | 21-45 | |
10:25 | Vasilije Micic turnover (lost ball) (Ish Smith steals) | |||
10:08 | +3 | Brandon Miller makes three point pullup jump shot (Leaky Black assists) | 24-45 | |
9:52 | Lindy Waters III misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:48 | Brandon Miller defensive rebound | |||
9:46 | Ousmane Dieng personal foul (Nick Richards draws the foul) | |||
9:36 | +2 | Nick Richards makes two point driving hook shot (Brandon Miller assists) | 26-45 | |
9:20 | Nick Smith Jr. shooting foul (Chet Holmgren draws the foul) | |||
9:20 | Chet Holmgren misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
9:20 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
9:20 | +1 | Chet Holmgren makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-46 | |
9:04 | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | |||
8:59 | Nick Richards offensive rebound | |||
8:56 | Kenrich Williams blocks P.J. Washington's two point driving layup | |||
8:53 | Aaron Wiggins defensive rebound | |||
8:53 | Aaron Wiggins turnover (lost ball) (P.J. Washington steals) | |||
8:35 | P.J. Washington turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
8:24 | Aaron Wiggins misses three point jump shot | |||
8:20 | Nick Richards defensive rebound | |||
8:13 | Nick Smith Jr. misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
8:10 | Kenrich Williams defensive rebound | |||
8:06 | Chet Holmgren turnover (lost ball) (Nick Smith Jr. steals) | |||
8:04 | +2 | Nick Smith Jr. makes two point running reverse layup | 28-46 | |
8:04 | Kenrich Williams shooting foul (Nick Smith Jr. draws the foul) | |||
8:04 | +1 | Nick Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 29-46 | |
7:49 | +2 | Kenrich Williams makes two point layup (Aaron Wiggins assists) | 29-48 | |
7:36 | +3 | Miles Bridges makes three point jump shot (Brandon Miller assists) | 32-48 | |
7:21 | +2 | Vasilije Micic makes two point driving finger roll layup | 32-50 | |
7:03 | +3 | Nick Smith Jr. makes three point jump shot (Miles Bridges assists) | 35-50 | |
7:02 | Thunder 60 second timeout | |||
6:51 | P.J. Washington shooting foul (Chet Holmgren draws the foul) | |||
6:51 | +1 | Chet Holmgren makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-51 | |
6:51 | +1 | Chet Holmgren makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-52 | |
6:38 | P.J. Washington misses two point hook shot | |||
6:36 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
6:30 | Brandon Miller blocks Kenrich Williams's two point cutting layup | |||
6:28 | Brandon Miller defensive rebound | |||
6:25 | Brandon Miller offensive foul (Kenrich Williams draws the foul) | |||
6:25 | Brandon Miller turnover (offensive foul) | |||
6:10 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point floating jump shot (Vasilije Micic assists) | 35-54 | |
5:53 | Chet Holmgren blocks Brandon Miller's two point driving layup | |||
5:53 | Hornets offensive rebound | |||
5:49 | Nick Smith Jr. misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
5:46 | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | |||
5:34 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turnover (traveling) | |||
5:21 | Miles Bridges misses three point jump shot | |||
5:17 | Kenrich Williams defensive rebound | |||
5:06 | +3 | Kenrich Williams makes three point jump shot (Josh Giddey assists) | 35-57 | |
4:43 | Miles Bridges misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
4:41 | Kenrich Williams defensive rebound | |||
4:22 | P.J. Washington personal foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | |||
4:11 | Bryce McGowens shooting foul (Jaylin Williams draws the foul) | |||
4:11 | +1 | Jaylin Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-58 | |
4:11 | +1 | Jaylin Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-59 | |
4:00 | Miles Bridges turnover (bad pass) (Josh Giddey steals) | |||
3:49 | Bryce McGowens blocks Josh Giddey's two point turnaround hook shot | |||
3:46 | Nick Richards defensive rebound | |||
3:36 | Brandon Miller misses three point jump shot | |||
3:33 | Brandon Miller offensive rebound | |||
3:31 | +2 | Brandon Miller makes two point driving floating jump shot | 37-59 | |
3:17 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point driving finger roll layup | 37-61 | |
3:17 | Bryce McGowens shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | |||
3:17 | Hornets 60 second timeout | |||
3:17 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 37-62 | |
3:00 | Bryce McGowens turnover (bad pass) (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander steals) | |||
2:51 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turnover (bad pass) (Brandon Miller steals) | |||
2:44 | +3 | Brandon Miller makes three point jump shot (Bryce McGowens assists) | 40-62 | |
2:28 | +2 | Cason Wallace makes two point cutting layup (Josh Giddey assists) | 40-64 | |
2:16 | Nick Richards misses two point jump shot | |||
2:13 | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | |||
2:06 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point driving finger roll layup | 40-66 | |
1:47 | Cody Martin turnover (bad pass) (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander steals) | |||
1:44 | +2 | Cason Wallace makes two point running dunk (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 40-68 | |
1:43 | Hornets 60 second timeout | |||
1:26 | +2 | Bryce McGowens makes two point driving dunk | 42-68 | |
1:16 | Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot | |||
1:12 | Luguentz Dort offensive rebound | |||
0:58 | Thunder turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
0:49 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander blocks Cody Martin's three point jump shot | |||
0:45 | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | |||