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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 37 as Thunder beat Suns 120-107 for 2-0 series lead, Holmgren adds 19 and 4 blocks, Jalen Williams exits with hamstring issue.
NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder beat Phoenix Suns 120-107 (AP)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a dominant 37-point performance to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 120-107 victory over the Phoenix Suns, giving the defending champions a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference first-round playoff series.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP and a finalist again this season, controlled the game with a blend of scoring and playmaking.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault praised his star guard’s all-round impact, saying, “Shai made the right play all night. His floor game was outstanding. He seemed to spray it all over the place, had a great tempo and got us really good shots.”
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Phoenix Suns – How It Happened?
The Thunder created separation with a strong third quarter, during which Chet Holmgren scored 11 of his 19 points and made key defensive plays, finishing with four blocks. Jalen Williams also contributed 19 points before leaving in the third quarter with a hamstring issue, raising fresh injury concerns for Oklahoma City.
Despite that setback, the Thunder remained in control, pushing their lead to as many as 26 points early in the fourth quarter. Phoenix mounted a late rally to cut the deficit to 10, but Oklahoma City held firm to secure another convincing win.
Reflecting on the team’s resilience amid injuries, Gilgeous-Alexander said, “All we can do is play next man up, and we built that muscle throughout the season pretty well. I’m super confident in this team to be able to go and get the job done no matter who’s out there.”
The 25-year-old also had a brief injury scare after a hard fall in the opening quarter but later reassured fans, stating, “I’m great. Ready to go.”
For Phoenix, Dillon Brooks led the scoring with 30 points, while Devin Booker added 22. The Suns will now look to regroup as the series shifts to their home court for Games 3 and 4.
(With inputs from Agencies)
Los Angeles, United States of America (USA)
April 23, 2026, 11:18 IST
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