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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Gilgeous-Alexander erupts with career-high 54 points to spark Thunder over Jazz

Gilgeous-Alexander erupts with career-high 54 points to spark Thunder over Jazz

Published Jan 23, 2025 06:48 am

At A Glance

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 54 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Utah Jazz, 123-114, on Wednesday night, Jan. 22.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 54 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Utah Jazz, 123-114, on Wednesday night, Jan. 22.

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots over Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

Gilgeous-Alexander made 17 of 35 field goals and 17 of 18 free throws to surpass his previous career best of 45 points. He also had eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Jalen Williams added 25 points for the Thunder (36-7), who are tied with Cleveland for the league's best record.

John Collins had 22 points and 12 rebounds, Collin Sexton had 18 points and nine assists, and Walker Kessler had 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Jazz, who lost their fourth straight.

Utah (10-32), the worst team in the Western Conference, hung tough throughout.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 23 points in the first half to help Oklahoma City take a 57-55 lead at the break. He scored 18 points in the third quarter as the Thunder took a 95-89 lead.

Gilgeous-Alexander took a break to start the final quarter, and the Thunder led 102-99 when he checked back in. He hit a 3-pointer that gave the Thunder a 115-106 lead and secured his career night.

Utah did a lot of things right, including scoring 31 second-chance points off 23 offensive rebounds. The Jazz simply ran into one of the best players and teams in the league.

Oklahoma City still was missing injured center Isaiah Hartenstein, and Utah took advantage by winning the rebounding battle 52-39. The Thunder's lack of size helped the Jazz keep it close.

Meanwhile in Inglewood, Jaylen Brown scored 25 points, Jayson Tatum added 24 and the Boston Celtics rallied past the Los Angeles Clippers 117-113 in overtime when both teams were missing key players.

Derrick White added 20 points and Sam Hauser had 15, tying his season high with five 3-pointers. The defending NBA champions played without Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.

Derrick Jones Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, 17 in the first quarter, to lead the Clippers. Kevin Porter Jr. added a season-high 26 and Amir Coffey had 24. LA’s Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac were all sidelined.

The Clippers trailed by seven in the fourth, but Coffey dunked and then Jones stole the ball from Brown and scored with 4.2 seconds remaining to tie the game at 103-103 and force overtime.

The Celtics opened the five-minute extra session with 3-pointers by White, Tatum and Brown that stretched the lead to 112-105. The Clippers twice cut the deficit to two points, the last time on Coffey’s three-point play with 30 seconds to go.

After the Celtics worked the ball downcourt, Neemias Queta scored underneath and time expired.

In Sacramento, DeMar DeRozan scored 32 points, Domantas Sabonis had 26 points and 18 rebounds and the Kings overcame an 18-point deficit to beat the Golden State Warriors, 123-117.

Malik Monk added 20 points and nine assists and DeAaron Fox had 14 points for Sacramento, which made 30 of 32 free throws. The Kings have won three in a row overall, seven straight at home and are 10-2 under interim coach Doug Christie.

Andrew Wiggins had 25 points and Buddy Hield added 17 points for the Warriors. Steph Curry finished with 14 points and 12 assists.

In Houston, Alperen Sengun made two free throws with 4.5 seconds left and Darius Garland missed two of three free throws after that to allow the Rockets to hold on for a 109-108 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Fred VanVleet had 26 points as Houston rallied late after squandering a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter.

A flagrant foul by Tari Eason on a 3-point attempt by Garland gave him three free throws with 2.1 seconds left. But he missed the first two before making the third to cut the lead to a point. The Cavaliers had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Donovan Mitchell’s 3-point attempt was off.

In Dallas, Jaden McDaniels scored a career-high 27 points, including the clinching free throw with 3 seconds to play, and Anthony Edwards added 21 as the Minnesota Timberwolves outlasted the short-handed Mavericks, 115-114.

Two free throws by Mike Conley gave Minnesota a 114-111 lead with 11.8 seconds left. After Kyrie Irving missed a 3-pointer, McDaniels grabbed the rebound and made one of two free throws for a four-point lead. Irving hit a running 3 at the buzzer.

Related Tags

Utah Jazz Oklahoma City Thunder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
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