Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 119-84 blowout of the visiting Phoenix Suns on Sunday in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series.
Gilgeous-Alexander was just 5 of 18 from the field but went 15 of 17 from the free-throw line. He also finished with a game-high seven assists to go with two blocks and no turnovers.
Jalen Williams added 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists in just 29 minutes while Chet Holmgren contributed 16 points.
“We’re the best version of ourselves when he’s the best version of himself,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of Williams.
The Suns, who shot just 34.9% from the field, were led by Devin Booker’s 23 points. Dillon Brooks added 18 and Jalen Green 17.
After a week off between games, the Thunder showed some rust offensively – shooting just 30.4% from 3-point range — but their defense did more than enough to pick up the slack.
The Thunder scored 34 points off 19 Phoenix turnovers as they swiped a script from the Suns, who used defense to fuel their offense in Friday’s play-in tournament win over Golden State.
“They just keep coming,” said Suns coach Jordan Ott. “It doesn’t matter who they bring in games, you play their style of basketball. They continuously bring it in waves. It feels like even when they go without their two bigs (Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein), their activity and energy picks up.”
Oklahoma City grabbed control early with a 19-2 run to take a 26-14 lead late in the first quarter. Phoenix went nearly six minutes without a field goal during the stretch, missing eight consecutive shots.
Less than five minutes into the game, Brooks lost the ball and Holmgren grabbed it. Brooks swatted toward the ball but instead made contact with Holmgren’s face, drawing a flagrant foul.
The Suns lost Jordan Goodwin to a calf injury in the second quarter, limiting him to just five minutes.
The Thunder led by as many as 25 in the first half, but the Suns started the third quarter strong. They scored nine quick points coming out of halftime to cut the deficit to 15.
But Oklahoma City outscored Phoenix 29-13 over the final 10 minutes of the quarter to grab control and enable the Thunder to sit most of their starters for the fourth.
The Thunder finished with just eight turnovers.
Game 2 is Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
–Field Level Media
