Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 113-105 home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA Cup West Group A game yesterday (Philippine time).
The Thunder have won 10 consecutive games and 18 of their first 19, the best 19-game start in the league since Golden State began 24-0 in 2015-2016.
During their winning streak, Oklahoma City had won every game by at least 13 points, but this one was far from a cake walk.
Naz Reid’s corner three-pointer with just under six minutes remaining put the Timberwolves ahead for the first time since the first quarter, then Anthony Edwards cut the Thunder lead to one with just over a minute remaining.
Oklahoma City immediately responded to Edwards’ bucket with a three-pointer from Chet Holmgren off a drive to the basket by Luguentz Dort.
Then Gilgeous-Alexander helped defend a Donte DiVincenzo layup try on the other end, grabbing the rebound, then taking a foul.
The reigning Most Valuable Player hit three free throws around a Minnesota turnover to help the Thunder keep their winning streak alive.
The Timberwolves have lost three consecutive games.
Oklahoma City is 3-0 in NBA Cup play heading into the group-stage finale against Phoenix on Saturday, November 29, while Minnesota dropped to 2-2.
Edwards scored 14 of his team-high 31 points in the fourth quarter, going 5-for-7 from the field in the final 12 minutes.
Minnesota was a season-low 59.5 percent from the free-throw line, missing 15 shots.
Isaiah Hartenstein added 15 points for the Thunder, while Ajay Mitchell scored 13 off the bench and Holmgren had 12 points and nine rebounds.
Oklahoma City closed out the first quarter with an 8-1 run to lead 24-17 after one.
Then late in the second quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander got hot, scoring nine points in an 11-2 Thunder run to stretch their lead to 12.
But Minnesota wasn’t going away, using a 15-3 run early in the third quarter to tie the game.
Gilgeous-Alexander came into the day questionable due to illness but finished 12-of-19 from the floor and 15-of-17 at the free-throw line. (Field Level Media / Reuters)