Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his 34 points in the third quarter to help the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 118-98 home win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.
The Spurs were held below 100 points for the first time this season.
The Thunder have won four consecutive games and eight of 10 since a Christmas Day loss to San Antonio.
The Spurs have lost back-to-back games and six of their last 10 since beating Oklahoma City for the third time in a 13-day span.
After a back-and-forth first half, the Thunder seized control in the third, first with an 11-0 run early on with five points and two assists from Gilgeous-Alexander.
Just after the run ended on Stephon Castle’s corner 3-pointer, Gilgeous-Alexander and Spurs star Victor Wembanyama matched up in the lane.
Gilgeous-Alexander was called for an offensive foul as he passed it out to Cason Wallace, but Wembanyama fell to the ground, clutching his right knee.
Though he briefly left the game, Wembanyama soon returned.
After San Antonio quickly cut the deficit to four, Oklahoma City ripped off another big run to stretch the lead out — this time for good.
Gilgeous-Alexander fueled that run as well, closing the 12-0 spurt with a block on Dylan Harper, a rebound and a drive the other way before being fouled at the rim.
Gilgeous-Alexander then closed the quarter with a block on Wembanyama’s alley-oop attempt.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished 11 of 23 from the field with five rebounds, five assists and a career-high-tying four blocks.
Chet Holmgren added 10 rebounds and three blocks, as Oklahoma City finished with a season-high-tying 11 blocks.
Jalen Williams scored 20 for the Thunder on 9-of-15 shooting, while Alex Caruso scored 13 off the bench.
Wembanyama went down grasping his ankle after landing on Kenrich Williams’ foot early in the fourth quarter but remained in the game.
Castle, who had been struggling from beyond the arc, led the Spurs with 20 points on 3-of-5 shooting on 3-pointers.
Wembanyama added 17 points, and De’Aaron Fox recorded 14.
–Field Level Media
