Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered an outstanding performance to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 101-93 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in an NBA Cup game on the road. The star guard finished with a game-high 36 points, nine assists, and six rebounds, propelling the Thunder to their fourth consecutive win.
The Thunder started strong, making seven of their first nine shots to establish a 15-6 lead with 7:43 left in the opening quarter. They maintained control, extending their advantage to 32-24 in the second quarter. A pair of back-to-back three-pointers by Gilgeous-Alexander and Kenrich Williams just before halftime gave Oklahoma City a narrow 51-48 lead.
In the closing moments, Gilgeous-Alexander dominated, scoring 15 points in the final stretch to secure the win.
Oklahoma City capitalized on Los Angeles’ 17 turnovers, converting them into 20 points. The Thunder shot 40.9% from the field and received additional contributions from Jalen Williams with 19 points, Luguentz Dort with 14 points, and Isaiah Hartenstein, who recorded a season-high 18 rebounds along with 11 points.
The Thunder’s victory improved their record to 2-1 in West Group B, while the Lakers, the reigning NBA Cup champions, dropped to 2-2.
For the Lakers, rookie Dalton Knecht led the team with 20 points, while D’Angelo Russell added 17 points off the bench. Anthony Davis contributed 15 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Los Angeles from losing four of their last five games.
LeBron James finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, while Austin Reaves added 11 points in the loss.
With this victory, the Thunder continue their impressive run, solidifying their position as strong contenders in the NBA Cup.
