Thunder erase 18-point hole, blast Jazz 144-112 with 33-4 surge in NBA Cup play
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SALT LAKE CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 31 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder used a stunning 33-4 third-quarter outburst to bury the Utah Jazz 144-112 on Friday night, improving to 16-1 and extending their winning streak to eight.
The Thunder, the reigning NBA champions, trailed by as many as 18 before delivering the largest victory by any club that has faced a 15-point deficit since play-by-play tracking began in 1997-98. The 32-point margin also marked Oklahoma City’s second-biggest comeback win this season; the team erased a 19-point hole against Memphis on Nov. 9.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who was 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and 9-for-13 overall, has scored at least 30 in 14 of the Thunder’s first 17 contests. According to ESPN Research, no player has matched that feat through 17 games since Michael Jordan in 1986-87.
Thunder catch fire after halftime
Utah led 84-77 midway through the third quarter when Oklahoma City unleashed 22 unanswered points, part of the 33-4 blitz that flipped the game. The Thunder forced nine turnovers during the stretch, shot 9-for-13 from deep in the period and outscored the Jazz 43-20.
Overall, Oklahoma City forced 28 turnovers and converted them into 44 points while shooting 61.4% from the field and a season-best 62.2% (23-for-37) from three-point range. Isaiah Joe finished with 16 points, and Jaylin Williams drained five threes en route to 15.
Early Jazz surge fades fast
The Jazz (5-10, 0-3 NBA Cup) exploded for 44 points in the first quarter—more than any opponent has scored in a single period against the Thunder this season—and led 44-30. That 14-point hole tied the largest first-quarter deficit ever overcome in a 30-plus-point NBA win.
Keyonte George scored 20 points and Lauri Markkanen added 19 for Utah, which still held a 68-67 edge at halftime. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault received a technical foul arguing a non-call as the second quarter ended, but his club responded emphatically after the break.
Oklahoma City is now 5-0 when trailing by double digits, the league’s only unbeaten team in those situations, and 2-0 in NBA Cup group play.
Source: ESPN
