Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a playoff career-high 42 points to lift the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 121-109 road win over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.
The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player finished 15 of 18 from the floor with eight assists to give the Thunder a commanding 3-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.
Oklahoma City has won 11 consecutive first-round games.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s previous playoff high was 40 points in Game 4 of last season’s Western Conference Finals against Minnesota.
“We did a really good job tonight playing to our identity offensively,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Everyone was aggressive. Everyone was playing within themselves. Everyone was moving around the ball.”
Playing without Jalen Williams, who suffered a hamstring strain in Wednesday’s Game 2 victory, the Thunder leaned even more heavily on Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander hit his first 11 shots, not missing until less than three minutes remained in the third quarter.
“The efficiency was ridiculous,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.
“He’s mastered the art of just staying disciplined and staying inside of himself and controlling what we can control at a really high level,” Daigneault said. “That’s what allows him to stay in games when things aren’t going his way, and that’s what allows him to improve. He feels a sense of control over his game and his craft. He also, as a result, feels a sense of control over his performance.”
Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 33 points while Jalen Green added 26 points. Devin Booker scored 16 points, but was held to 6-of-16 shooting from the floor.
Despite being without Williams, which moved Ajay Mitchell into the starting lineup, and Isaiah Joe, who was out for personal reasons, the Thunder reserves still dominated their counterparts. Oklahoma City’s bench outscored Phoenix’s 36-12.
“Those guys were awesome. They gave us great minutes, especially in the first half,” Daignuealt said of his bench. “… In a playoff series, you need everybody at different times, to execute different things, and we had those guys step up in a big way today.”
The Suns were within nine early in the fourth quarter when Gilgeous-Alexander checked back in.
Moments later, Cason Wallace stepped into a passing lane, intercepting Devin Booker’s pass and fed to Gilgeous-Alexander for a layup on the other end, sending the Oklahoma City bench into celebration while Phoenix called a timeout with the Thunder up 98-85 with 7:25 remaining.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished 14 of 15 from inside the arc and 11 of 12 from the free-throw line.
“Give him credit. He had us spinning,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said. “He had us spinning tonight.”
Mitchell scored 15 points while Alex Caruso scored 13 off the bench.
Dillon Brooks scored nine consecutive Phoenix points to help his team pull within 10 with three minutes remaining, but the Thunder hit four consecutive free throws to maintain the double-digit advantage.
“He was efficient and I got him Game 4,” Brooks said of Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Thunder took a 62-53 lead into halftime with a 12-2 run to close the second quarter.
Grayson Allen, who had missed the last five games with a hamstring injury, made his first appearance of the postseason, playing 17 minutes and scoring seven points on 2-of-8 shooting.
The Suns were without Jordan Goodwin, who suffered a calf injury in Game 1, and Mark Williams (foot).
The Thunder have a chance to close out the series Monday in Phoenix.
–Field Level Media
