In a dominant performance on Friday night, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a convincing 99-83 victory over the Phoenix Suns in an NBA Cup matchup.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 28 points, helping Oklahoma City extend their impressive start to the season and improving to 11-2. The win was the Thunder’s third straight, and it came despite the absence of key big man Chet Holmgren, who has been sidelined due to a pelvic fracture.
Oklahoma City, already thriving on the back of Gilgeous-Alexander’s stellar play, had multiple contributors step up in the win. Lu Dort chipped in with 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Jalen Williams provided 14 points and eight boards. Isaiah Joe added 11 points, rounding out a balanced offensive effort for the Thunder, who were never truly threatened after building a commanding lead in the second half.
Phoenix, meanwhile, was severely depleted as they continued to play without the services of three key players: Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Grayson Allen. With the Suns missing their stars, it was always going to be an uphill battle, and the gap was too wide for Phoenix to overcome. Josh Okogie did his best to keep Phoenix competitive, posting 15 points and nine rebounds, while Devin Booker added 12 points despite a cold shooting night. Booker, who has been carrying much of the Suns’ offensive load, missed his first six shots and finished just 2-of-10 from the field, a performance far below his usual standards.
The Thunder’s dominance was evident from the opening tip, and they led by as much as 25 points during the second half. Oklahoma City had a solid rebounding edge, outrebounding the Suns 53-50, which allowed them to control the game’s tempo and limit Phoenix’s second-chance opportunities. Without Durant and Beal, Phoenix struggled to keep pace, particularly in the frontcourt, where the absence of size was felt most acutely.
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Despite a slow start, the Suns made a brief push midway through the second quarter, cutting the deficit to single digits after a 11-2 run. Oklahoma City led 43-25 at the 5:57 mark of the second quarter, but Phoenix responded with 11 points in the next 13 to trim the lead to 45-36. That, however, would be as close as the Suns would get. From that point forward, the Thunder seized control once again, and their lead quickly ballooned as the Suns’ offense faltered.
Gilgeous-Alexander was the engine driving Oklahoma City throughout the game. Whether orchestrating the offense, hitting clutch shots, or facilitating for teammates, he continued to prove why he’s one of the most dynamic young stars in the league. The Thunder, who have shown consistent promise this season, were able to execute their game plan efficiently, limiting Phoenix’s offensive options and taking advantage of their injuries.
For Phoenix, the loss was another frustrating chapter in what has been a difficult stretch without their stars. While the Suns have a talented roster, the absence of Durant, Beal, and Allen left them with limited offensive firepower. With Booker struggling and no other Suns player able to pick up the slack, Phoenix simply couldn’t find a rhythm against a Thunder team that was firing on all cylinders.
Holmgren’s absence for Oklahoma City has been a key storyline this season, but the Thunder have shown resilience in his absence. The young big man, who was expected to play a pivotal role in Oklahoma City’s frontcourt, will miss at least eight weeks after suffering a pelvic fracture in a loss to the Golden State Warriors last Sunday. While Holmgren’s absence has certainly been felt, the Thunder have been able to adjust, with their perimeter players picking up the slack and playing a fast-paced, balanced style that has helped them to this strong start.
The key takeaway from Friday’s game is how thoroughly Oklahoma City controlled the tempo and the boards, despite being without Holmgren. The Thunder showed once again that they are a formidable force in the NBA this season, and their balanced offensive attack, combined with solid defense and strong rebounding, has made them one of the league’s most impressive teams early on. With Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge, they will only get better as the season progresses.
The Suns, on the other hand, are still finding their footing. Missing three key players in Durant, Beal, and Allen has clearly hurt Phoenix, and they will need those stars back on the court as soon as possible if they hope to stay competitive in the tough Western Conference. Booker’s cold shooting night underscored the difficulties the Suns face without their full complement of players, and it will be important for Phoenix to find solutions if they are to avoid further slippage in the standings.
Looking ahead, Phoenix will need to regroup quickly as they travel to Minnesota for a matchup on Sunday. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, will return home to face Dallas in a Sunday night showdown. The Thunder will be looking to extend their win streak to four games and continue their strong play without Holmgren. If they can maintain this level of play, Oklahoma City could be poised to make some noise in the NBA Cup and beyond.
In summary, Oklahoma City’s 99-83 victory over Phoenix on Friday night was a showcase of their depth, skill, and composure. Despite the absence of Holmgren, the Thunder were able to assert their dominance from start to finish, with Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge and key contributions from several other players. For Phoenix, it was a tough loss that underscored the importance of their missing stars, as they will need to find a way to stay afloat until their full roster is back in action.