Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren scored 25 points each as the Oklahoma City Thunder kept their winning streak rolling with a 131-101 win over the Utah Jazz on Sunday in Salt Lake City.
Even without reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the first time this season, the Thunder extended their winning streak to 15, tying their franchise record.
Oklahoma City has won 23 of its first 24 games.
Gilgeous-Alexander missed his first game this season with left elbow bursitis, leaving the Thunder without three of its regular starters. Isaiah Hartenstein and Luguentz Dort remained out while Alex Caruso and Isaiah Joe also sat out.
In the first meeting Nov. 21, the Jazz built an early 18-point lead before Oklahoma City stormed back to win 144-112.
There was no big deficit for the Thunder to crawl out of this time. Utah’s only lead came in the opening minute and disappeared on Jaylin Williams’ 3-pointer 58 seconds in.
After missing its first shot, Oklahoma City hit five in a row while the Jazz missed their first five as the Thunder led 13-1 just three minutes in.
Oklahoma City’s lead never shrunk to less than eight the rest of the way and it led by as many as 27 during its 45-point first quarter. The Thunder led by as many as 42.
The Jazz have dropped back-to-back games and have been outscored 115-53 in the first quarter over their last three games.
Playing just his fifth game of the season, Jalen Williams had his most effective game, going 11 for 19 from the field with eight assists and two steals in scoring a season high.
Holmgren made 12 of 15 shots and had nine rebounds and two blocks.
Oklahoma City shot 58% from the field and was 21 of 42 from beyond the arc. Both of its best 3-point shooting games of the season have come against the Jazz.
The Thunder are 44 of 79 from beyond the 3-point line against Utah.
Aaron Wiggins hit five 3-pointers to score 19 points off the bench, while Ousmane Dieng hit four to finish with 14. Ten of Oklahoma City’s 11 players hit at least one 3-pointer.
The Jazz were without Lauri Markkanen (illness) for the first time this season.
Kyle Filipowski led Utah with 21 points on 10-of-14 shooting with 10 rebounds. Walter Clayton Jr. and Taylor Hendricks scored 20 points each off the bench.
–Field Level Media
