Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points and had 11 assists to help the Oklahoma City Thunder continue their hot start with a 126-102 win over the visiting Golden State Warriors on Tuesday.
Chet Holmgren was perfect from the field, hitting all nine of his shots including a pair of 3-pointers, to add 23 points and 11 rebounds.
The Thunder took control early and steadily pulled away through the first three quarters to run their record to 11-1 and improve to 5-0 at home.
The loss was the fifth in seven games for the Warriors, who were playing the first game of a six-game road trip.
After missing the last three games due to illness, Stephen Curry returned for Golden State and it didn’t take long for the return to be eventful.
As time wound down in the first quarter, Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Joe elevated for a 3-pointer.
Curry contested the shot, and Joe came crashing to the floor.
Curry was called for his first career flagrant foul on the play.
The Thunder defense, even without Luguentz Dort for the fourth consecutive game, gave Curry fits, holding the Warriors’ star to just 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting — 1 of 5 from beyond the arc.
By the time Joe hit his three free throws, Oklahoma City led by nine, then stretched the lead with a 10-3 run to start the second quarter.
The stretch included Holmgren grabbing a rebound and finding Alex Caruso for a fast-break 3-pointer, then Holmgren finishing at the rim off a feed from Caruso on the next possession.
Oklahoma City led by 19 at halftime, shooting 52.4% from the floor.
The Thunder then put the game away with a 44-point third quarter, shooting 15 of 24 in the quarter with 13 points from Gilgeous-Alexander and 12 from Holmgren.
Among Oklahoma City starters, only Ajay Mitchell played fourth-quarter minutes as both teams emptied their benches with the game decided.
Joe scored 18 points off the bench for the Thunder while Mitchell added 17.
Jonathan Kuminga led Golden State with 13 points.
–Field Level Media
