The Oklahoma City Thunder turned Sunday night at Paycom Center into a scoring party, hanging a season-high 146 points on the Utah Jazz in a 146-111 rout. Chet Holmgren led with 21 points and Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander added 20 before both stars called it a night early, resting the entire fourth quarter as Oklahoma City tightened its grip on the Western Conference with the regular season heading into its final week.
Holmgren's efficient night
Chet Holmgren needed only 22 minutes to tilt the game firmly in OKC's favor, going 8-for-11 from the field and 4-for-5 from three while adding seven rebounds and four blocks. It was the kind of efficient, two-way performance that helped the Thunder separate in a hurry, as detailed by Sports Illustrated. His short shift highlighted just how comfortable Oklahoma City felt leaning on its depth to close things out.
Shai extends historic streak
Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander quietly turned in another line for the record books: 20 points in 24 minutes with seven assists, extending his streak of games with at least 20 points to 138. He watched the fourth quarter from the bench with the result long decided. Per ESPN, the Thunder have now won five straight and 17 of their last 18, a run that has made nights like this feel almost routine.
Shooting clinic and balanced attack
Oklahoma City put on a shooting clinic, hitting 54-of-92 shots from the field (about 59 percent) and a blistering 24-of-45 from beyond the arc (53.3 percent). The Thunder piled up a season-high 40 assists, with seven players finishing in double figures. The official box score on NBA.com shows how thoroughly the scoring load was shared, which made it easy for the starters to enjoy the final quarter as spectators.
What it means in the standings
The victory moved Oklahoma City to 62-16 and nudged its cushion over the San Antonio Spurs to three games with four regular-season contests left, leaving the Thunder in strong position to lock up the West's top seed. Next up is a trip to Los Angeles for a Tuesday night matchup with the Lakers, according to ESPN.
