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Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points to help the Thunder to a 113-108 victory over the Orlando Magic and become the first team to secure a spot in the NBA playoffs.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) brings the ball down court against he Orlando Magic during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 113-108 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, becoming the first team to secure a spot in the NBA playoffs.
Chet Holmgren supported with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Ajay Mitchell contributed 16 points to help the NBA champions close out the game against the Magic in the fourth quarter.
The Thunder’s ninth consecutive win improved their record to 54-15, maintaining their lead in the Western Conference over second-placed San Antonio Spurs.
Orlando, now at 38-30, remains in sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings. Paolo Banchero topped Orlando’s scoring with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists.
Reigning NBA MVP Gilgeous-Alexander praised the Thunder’s resilience following a mixed first-half performance.
“We got off to a good start but then the car kind of came off the road for a little bit,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “But that’s what great teams do — they figure out a way to get the car back on the road, they figure out a way to go into a building and win a game when the chips are stacked against you, and we did that tonight.”
Gilgeous-Alexander’s performance extended his record-breaking streak of consecutive games scoring 20 points or more to 129.
San Antonio kept pace with Oklahoma City, cruising to a 132-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings. A balanced offensive effort saw seven San Antonio players score in double figures, with Victor Wembanyama and Keldon Johnson each contributing 18 points.
In Minneapolis, Julius Randle’s 32 points led the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 116-104 win over the Phoenix Suns.
In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons tightened their hold at the top of the standings with a 130-117 win over the Washington Wizards, improving to 49-19. Jalen Duren scored 36 points, though the win was marred by an injury to Cade Cunningham, who left the game in the first quarter with a back problem.
The New York Knicks remain in third place in the East after a dominant 136-110 victory over the struggling Indiana Pacers, last year’s NBA Finals runners-up, who are now 15-54 this season. Josh Hart led the Knicks with 33 points, making all five of his three-point attempts, while OG Anunoby added 26 points and Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 22.
(With Inputs From Agencies)
United States of America (USA)
March 18, 2026, 12:15 IST
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