Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points to lead the host Oklahoma City Thunder to a 99-83 win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday in an NBA Cup matchup.
Playing without Chet Holmgren, one of the league’s top shot-blockers who is out with a fractured hip, the Thunder still finished with 11 blocks.
Phoenix shot a season-low 29.3 percent from the floor, its worst percentage in a game since March 2006.
The win in their NBA Cup opener was the third straight victory for the Thunder. The Suns have dropped three of their last four and have dropped both of their tournament games so far.
Phoenix got off to a dreadful offensive start as the Thunder led by as many as 17 in the first quarter.
The Suns were just 3 of 21 from the floor and made just one of their 11 3-point tries in the opening quarter, scoring just 14 points.
Phoenix’s misses in the frame included six by Devin Booker. Playing without Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Grayson Allen, Phoenix struggled to generate offense.
Booker’s first made field goal came nearly three minutes into the third quarter as he finished 2 of 10 from the field with 12 points.
Josh Okogie led the Suns with 15 points while Jusuf Nurkic went 0-for-7 from the floor with just four points.
It was the second time in the last three games Nurkic failed to make a field goal.
A 12-point Thunder lead at halftime ballooned to twice that in the third, thanks in large part to Oklahoma City’s defense and Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander was 7 of 13 from the floor in the third, scoring 15 of the Thunder’s 35 points in the quarter. Oklahoma City scored nine points off Phoenix turnovers in the quarter.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s 186-game streak of making at least one free throw appeared to be in jeopardy, as he went nearly five minutes into the fourth quarter before being sent to the line. He hit all four of his attempts in the frame.
Four players had multiple blocks for the Thunder, led by Kenrich Williams’ three off the bench.
Luguentz Dort scored 15 points for Oklahoma City and Jalen Williams added 14.
–Field Level Media
