Thunder clobber Nets to extend home dominance
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has collected 27 points and 10 assists to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 127-101 NBA win over the visiting Brooklyn Nets.
The Thunder have won 20 of their past 23 games and 12 straight in Oklahoma City.
Their 35-7 record has them seven games clear of the second placed Houston Rockets in the western conference.
Gilgeous-Alexander didn't show any ill effects on Sunday from the wrist sprain that kept him out against the Cavaliers on Friday, hanging off the rim for several seconds after a first-quarter dunk.
Oklahoma hit nine 3-pointers (on 13 attempts) in the first quarter, while Brooklyn could manage just two of 14.
The Thunder extended their early lead to 27 points at one stage and went to the main break at 69-49.
The Nets rallied in the second half but never got closer than 13.
Isaiah Joe scored 24 points for Oklahoma and Jaylin Williams 14.
While Tyrese Martin and Johnson led the Nets with 15 points apiece.
It was Brooklyn's third straight loss and their 19th in 24 games.
In Orlando, a Nikola Jokic triple double (20 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists), his 18th of the season, rolled the Denver Nuggets to a 113-100 win over the Magic.
Christian Braun added 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets, who won their six straight road game.
Jamal Murray scored 19 points and Michael Porter Jr had 15 points and six rebounds.
Nikola Jokić puts up his 18th triple-double of the season! The next-closest player has 8 😳
🃏 20 PTS
🃏 14 REB
🃏 10 AST
🃏 3 STL
🃏 3 BLK
Nuggets get their 6th win in 7 games! pic.twitter.com/Gdgc2g3E05— NBA (@NBA) January 20, 2025
Wendell Carter Jr led Orlando with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Anthony Black came off the bench with 14 points and five assists.
While in Miami, Rookie Kel'el Ware scored 25 points to match his season high, Duncan Robinson added 21 as the Heat beat San Antonio 128-107.
Jimmy Butler had eight points and seven assists in his second game since returning from a seven-game suspension for "conduct detrimental to the team."
Terry Rozier had 20 points, Tyler Herro scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half and Nikol Jovic added 14 to help the Heat snap a three-game losing streak.
Devin Vassell scored 23 points and Victor Wembanyama added 21 for the Spurs.
In other games, the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 123-109, the Portland Trailblazers eased past the Chicago Bulls 113-102, the Clippers beat the Lakers 116-102 and the Sacramento Kings came out winners against the Washington Wizards 123-100.
In the Clippers' win, James Harden moved to 14th in the all-time scoring list with 26,711.
