Shai Gilgeous-Alexander powered the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 105-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night in San Francisco, scoring 35 points in a nail-biting contest.
Despite playing without Stephen Curry, who was sidelined due to knee pain, the Warriors pushed the Thunder to the limit. Andrew Wiggins hit a three-pointer with 11 seconds left to cut the lead to one, but Luguentz Dort’s crucial block on Wiggins’ game-tying attempt secured the win for Oklahoma City.
Thunder Highlights
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Followed up his 37-point outing against Sacramento with another stellar performance, shooting 13-of-28 from the field.
- Jalen Williams: Left the game late in the first half after suffering a right eye injury when Jonathan Kuminga dunked over him. Williams did not return and was seen with an ice pack during halftime.
The Thunder improved to 14-4 with their third consecutive win and capitalized on the Warriors’ 11 first-half turnovers, turning them into 15 points.
Warriors Struggle Without Curry
Jonathan Kuminga returned from illness and led Golden State with 19 points, while Buddy Hield added five three-pointers, passing Dirk Nowitzki for 18th on the NBA’s all-time three-point list. The Warriors, now 12-6, are 3-1 without Curry this season.
Draymond Green picked up his sixth technical foul of the season during the second quarter, inching closer to the 16-technical threshold that results in a one-game suspension.
Key Stats
- Buddy Hield: Finished 5-for-8 from beyond the arc, moving within one three-pointer of tying Jason Kidd for 17th place on the NBA’s all-time list.
Next Games
- Thunder: Continue their road trip against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
- Warriors: Start a two-game trip Saturday against the Phoenix Suns.
Oklahoma City’s resilience without Jalen Williams and Golden State’s struggle in Curry’s absence highlight the dynamic challenges each team faces early in the season.