Oklahoma City — The Thunder did not just protect home court Wednesday night, they shoved the Phoenix Suns into a quick 2-0 hole. Oklahoma City cruised to a 120-107 win at Paycom Center behind 37 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams adding 19 each. The only damper: Williams exited in the third quarter with what appeared to be a hamstring issue. Dillon Brooks poured in 30 for Phoenix as the series now heads west for Game 3 on Saturday.
Thunder Took Command At Home
The Thunder broke things open in the second quarter, turning a tight start into a 65-57 halftime advantage and then stretching the lead to as many as 23 in the third, according to KOCO. The Paycom crowd kept the volume up while Oklahoma City’s depth and size repeatedly walled off Phoenix’s attempts to get anything easy.
Shai And Brooks In The Spotlight
Gilgeous-Alexander was in full control, stacking up 37 points and nine assists, while Holmgren backed him with 19, per the official box score on FOX Sports. On the other side, Brooks tried to drag Phoenix back with 30 points and Devin Booker added 22, but the Suns never seriously dented the Thunder’s cushion in the closing minutes.
Williams Exits With Hamstring Concern
Midway through the third quarter, the mood shifted when Williams grabbed at his left hamstring and headed to the locker room, not returning to the game. The sequence was noted by the Associated Press and republished on Sportsnet. Head coach Mark Daigneault kept things cautious afterward, saying the team would “take a look at it in the next couple of days,” according to Sportsnet. Before the injury, RotoWire recorded Williams with 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting.
What’s Next: Game 3 In Phoenix
Game 3 is set for Saturday, April 25 at 3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. CT) on NBC, giving the Suns their first chance to answer at home, according to the playoff schedule on NBA.com. Oklahoma City will spend the next 48 hours monitoring Williams’ hamstring and tweaking rotation plans if he cannot go.
Local Context
The victory keeps the reigning champions firmly in control as the matchup shifts to the Valley. For a refresher on how this group climbed the mountain, check out earlier coverage of the franchise’s first NBA title.
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