Shai, Jalen carry Thunder past Jazz
SALT LAKE CITY – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, Jalen Williams had 11 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and the Oklahoma City Thunder snapped the Utah Jazz’s six-game winning streak with a 134-129 victory Thursday night.
“We’re not feeling 100% and yet really competed for 48 minutes together on both ends against the hottest team in the league coming in,” Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said. “We probably didn’t have a fastball physically, but we had our fastball mentally and competitively.”
Williams, who shot 11 of 14, made four 3-pointers and has scored at least 25 points in three consecutive games.
“The guy lines up and guards a premier matchup every night tonight,” Daigneault said. “And for him to be able to do that offensively and do that defensively is a very complete game. It’s very impressive.”
Williams asserts it’s all about confidence.
“There was flow and it just has been happening in the fourth quarter,” said Williams, who has been nicknamed ‘Fourth Quarter Dub.’
Cason Wallace scored a season-high 16 points and Josh Giddey had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who had 29 fast-break points.
“We try and play downhill. That’s our identity,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, who shot 15 of 17 from the line. “We run and we want to touch the paint whenever we can.”
Collin Sexton scored 31 and Lauri Markkanen added 26 for the Jazz, who had their ninegame home winning streak stopped. It came a day after the NBA postponed Utah’s game scheduled for Wednesday against Golden State because of the death of Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević in Salt Lake City early that morning.
Sexton made three free throws and a dunk to get Utah within 130-126 before Wallace made his season-best fourth 3-pointer for the Thunder.
“He’s not flinching,” Daigneault said about Wallace after the rookie’s seventh start. “Just great poise and mental toughness.”
Jordan Clarkson answered with a 3-pointer for Utah, but Chet Holmgren blocked Walker Kessler’s dunk attempt. On the ensuing out-of-bounds play, the Jazz couldn’t convert on two attempts and Holmgren closed the win with a free throw. /