Gilgeous-Alexander scratches out 20 points as Thunder notch eighth straight victory
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OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander posted 20 points and 10 assists, preserving his NBA-record streak of 20-point games at 128, as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-103 on Sunday.
The All-Star guard entered the fourth quarter with only 10 points. He checked back in with 7:10 remaining and finally reached 19 on a step-back jumper over Anthony Edwards with 1:46 to play. Fouled on the shot, Gilgeous-Alexander sank the free throw while the crowd chanted “M-V-P!” to keep the run alive, stretching it beyond Wilt Chamberlain’s former mark of 126.
Chet Holmgren supplied 21 points and nine rebounds, and Isaiah Joe added 20 points as Oklahoma City (53-15) secured its eighth consecutive win and maintained the NBA’s best record.
Julius Randle scored 32 points and Edwards finished with 19 for Minnesota, which committed 22 turnovers to the Thunder’s seven. Oklahoma City attempted 101 shots compared with the Timberwolves’ 77.
The Thunder opened the game on a 9-0 burst, but Minnesota recovered to lead 53-47 at halftime while Gilgeous-Alexander shot 2-for-10. The Timberwolves stretched the margin to 68-59 midway through the third quarter before Oklahoma City surged ahead. Jaylin Williams’ bouncing three-pointer put the hosts up 78-73, and they carried an 80-76 edge into the final period.
Early in the fourth, Jared McCain drilled a three after catching Isaiah Hartenstein’s no-look, behind-the-back feed for a 91-80 cushion. Moments later, another Hartenstein pass — this one between his legs and behind him — set up McCain for a second three that made it 94-81, and the Thunder never looked back.
Source: ESPN
