Gilgeous-Alexander scores 31 to lead Thunder past Doncic-less Mavericks 126-119
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 points and nine rebounds to help the Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the short-handed Dallas Mavericks 126-119 on Thursday night.
Dallas guard Luka Doncic missed the game with a sore left hamstring. He left in the fourth quarter Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors, ending his streak of consecutive triple-doubles at seven games. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said before the game that an MRI on the NBA scoring leader’s injury turned up “clean,” meaning it likely will be a short-term issue. Kidd said Doncic will be re-evaluated when the team returns home.
Oklahoma City took advantage. Jalen Williams had 27 points in his return from a sprained right ankle that kept him out of Tuesday's loss to the Indiana Pacers.
“He’s getting more comfortable every night," Gilgeous-Alexander said of Williams. "He’s seeing different types of defenses. Kid works hard, and as he gets reps, he just continues to keep getting better. That’s what I expect.”
Williams excelled defensively, too. He had three blocks, including a highlight-reel swat of a shot by Kyrie Irving in the second quarter.
Josh Giddey added 18 points for the Thunder, who moved into a tie with the idle Denver Nuggets for the best record in the Western Conference at 46-20.
The Thunder used expert passing to bounce back from the loss to Indiana.
“I thought we really moved it," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "It was a good response to the Indiana game where I thought we, for whatever reason, we couldn’t establish a great rhythm in the game. And that’s the sort of thing we want to get back on track very quickly. We can’t control whether or not the ball goes in, but we can control how we play. And I thought offensively, how we played tonight had great integrity to it.”
Irving had 36 points and a season-high 12 assists, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 23 points and Daniel Gafford added 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Mavericks.
Gafford missed a putback attempt in the first minute of the game, ending his streak of consecutive made field goals at 33. He ended up two short of Wilt Chamberlain's NBA record of 35.
“The streak is very impressive," Kidd said. "When you’re talking about the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, not too many people are in that air.”
Irving had 20 points and eight assists in the first half, but the Thunder led 65-63 at the break. Oklahoma City led 95-87 at the end of the third quarter, then held on in the fourth. The Thunder shot 52.3% from the field.
The Mavericks need to win often as they try to avoid dropping into the play-in tournament. The urgency of the situation led Kidd to disagree with the officials at times.
“The NBA is all about - the best teams are going to compete at this time of year," Kidd said. "Both teams are fighting for something. And so, I thought it was a competitive game. There’s going to be some missed calls, and that’s just part of the NBA. But you've got to play through it.”
UP NEXT
Mavericks: Host the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
Thunder: Visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Daniel Gafford vs. Chet Holmgren (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gains possession) | |||
11:40 | Chet Holmgren misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
11:39 | P.J. Washington defensive rebound | |||
11:33 | Dante Exum misses two point driving layup | |||
11:29 | Daniel Gafford offensive rebound | |||
11:28 | Daniel Gafford misses two point putback layup | |||
11:25 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
11:09 | Luguentz Dort misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
11:07 | Daniel Gafford defensive rebound | |||
10:58 | Dante Exum turnover (bad pass) (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander steals) | |||
10:54 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point running layup (Jalen Williams assists) | 0-2 | |
10:30 | +2 | Daniel Gafford makes two point hook shot (Kyrie Irving assists) | 2-2 | |
10:19 | Daniel Gafford shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | |||
10:19 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 2-3 | |
10:19 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-4 | |
10:07 | +2 | Derrick Jones Jr. makes two point driving finger roll layup (Kyrie Irving assists) | 4-4 | |
9:53 | Luguentz Dort misses three point jump shot | |||
9:50 | Chet Holmgren offensive rebound | |||
9:36 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point driving floating jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 4-6 | |
9:27 | +3 | Kyrie Irving makes three point pullup jump shot | 7-6 | |
9:15 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point driving layup | 7-8 | |
9:04 | Derrick Jones Jr. turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
8:55 | Daniel Gafford blocks Jalen Williams's two point driving layup | |||
8:55 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
8:52 | +2 | Luguentz Dort makes two point driving floating jump shot (Josh Giddey assists) | 7-10 | |
8:52 | Dante Exum shooting foul (Luguentz Dort draws the foul) | |||
8:52 | +1 | Luguentz Dort makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 7-11 | |
8:34 | +2 | P.J. Washington makes two point floating jump shot | 9-11 | |
8:25 | Josh Giddey offensive foul (Dante Exum draws the foul) | |||
8:25 | Josh Giddey turnover (offensive foul) | |||
8:18 | +3 | Kyrie Irving makes three point pullup jump shot | 12-11 | |
8:16 | Thunder 60 second timeout | |||
8:00 | Josh Giddey misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
7:56 | Kyrie Irving defensive rebound | |||
7:53 | Josh Green turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
7:36 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point driving layup (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 12-13 | |
7:18 | Josh Green misses three point jump shot | |||
7:15 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
7:10 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point driving floating jump shot | 12-15 | |
6:52 | +3 | Derrick Jones Jr. makes three point jump shot (Kyrie Irving assists) | 15-15 | |
6:30 | +3 | Jalen Williams makes three point jump shot (Josh Giddey assists) | 15-18 | |
6:18 | +2 | Daniel Gafford makes two point cutting dunk (Kyrie Irving assists) | 17-18 | |
6:12 | Jalen Williams offensive foul (Charge) (Kyrie Irving draws the foul) | |||
6:12 | Jalen Williams turnover (offensive foul) | |||
6:00 | Kyrie Irving misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
5:58 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
5:56 | Jalen Williams turnover (bad pass) (Kyrie Irving steals) | |||
5:47 | Luguentz Dort shooting foul (P.J. Washington draws the foul) | |||
5:47 | +1 | P.J. Washington makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-18 | |
5:47 | P.J. Washington misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
5:45 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
5:25 | +3 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes three point stepback jump shot | 18-21 | |
5:11 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander kicked ball violation | |||
4:56 | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | |||
4:53 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
4:48 | Isaiah Joe turnover (double dribble) | |||
4:34 | +2 | Josh Green makes two point driving layup (Kyrie Irving assists) | 20-21 | |
4:20 | Isaiah Joe misses three point jump shot | |||
4:15 | Maxi Kleber defensive rebound | |||
4:12 | Mavericks 60 second timeout | |||
3:58 | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point driving layup | 22-21 | |
3:58 | Kenrich Williams shooting foul (Kyrie Irving draws the foul) | |||
3:58 | +1 | Kyrie Irving makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 23-21 | |
3:41 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point stepback jump shot | 23-23 | |
3:22 | +2 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot (Kyrie Irving assists) | 25-23 | |
3:14 | Luguentz Dort misses three point jump shot | |||
3:09 | Tim Hardaway Jr. defensive rebound | |||
3:03 | Tim Hardaway Jr. misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
3:00 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
2:44 | +3 | Isaiah Joe makes three point stepback jump shot (Luguentz Dort assists) | 25-26 | |
2:19 | Tim Hardaway Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
2:19 | Thunder defensive rebound | |||
2:05 | Isaiah Joe misses three point jump shot | |||
2:01 | Kenrich Williams offensive rebound | |||
1:50 | +3 | Kenrich Williams makes three point jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 25-29 | |
1:30 | Tim Hardaway Jr. turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
1:11 | Kenrich Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
1:07 | Tim Hardaway Jr. defensive rebound | |||
0:50 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander personal foul (Dereck Lively II draws the foul) | |||
0:43 | Dante Exum misses two point driving layup | |||
0:41 | Kenrich Williams defensive rebound | |||
0:36 | +2 | Isaiah Joe makes two point running reverse layup (Cason Wallace assists) | 25-31 | |
0:15 | Gordon Hayward shooting foul (Dante Exum draws the foul) | |||
0:15 | +1 | Dante Exum makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-31 | |
0:15 | +1 | Dante Exum makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-31 | |
0:03 | Derrick Jones Jr. shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | |||
0:03 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-32 | |
0:03 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-33 | |
0:00 | Dante Exum misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
0:00 | Mavericks offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:51 | +2 | Daniel Gafford makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jaden Hardy assists) | 29-33 | |
11:35 | Josh Giddey personal foul (Loose ball) (Jaden Hardy draws the foul) | |||
11:35 | Josh Giddey turnover (lost ball) | |||
11:23 | Josh Giddey blocks Dante Exum's two point driving layup | |||
11:23 | Mavericks offensive rebound | |||
11:21 | P.J. Washington misses two point layup | |||
11:20 | Tim Hardaway Jr. offensive rebound | |||
11:17 | +3 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes three point jump shot | 32-33 | |
11:06 | Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot | |||
11:03 | Tim Hardaway Jr. defensive rebound | |||
10:55 | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | |||
10:53 | Daniel Gafford offensive rebound | |||
10:53 | +2 | Daniel Gafford makes two point putback dunk | 34-33 | |
10:53 | Cason Wallace shooting foul (Daniel Gafford draws the foul) | |||
10:53 | +1 | Daniel Gafford makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 35-33 | |
10:42 | Jalen Williams misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
10:38 | Daniel Gafford defensive rebound | |||
10:31 | Jaden Hardy turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
10:22 | Thunder 60 second timeout | |||
10:13 | +2 | Aaron Wiggins makes two point driving layup (Josh Giddey assists) | 35-35 | |
9:58 | +2 | Dante Exum makes two point driving floating jump shot | 37-35 | |
9:47 | Cason Wallace misses three point jump shot | |||
9:44 | Tim Hardaway Jr. defensive rebound | |||
9:37 | Dante Exum turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
9:21 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point pullup jump shot (Josh Giddey assists) | 37-37 | |
9:08 | +3 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes three point jump shot (Jaden Hardy assists) | 40-37 | |
8:56 | Josh Giddey misses three point jump shot | |||
8:52 | Daniel Gafford defensive rebound | |||
8:42 | Chet Holmgren blocks Daniel Gafford's two point driving layup | |||
8:41 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
8:41 | Dante Exum personal foul (Chet Holmgren draws the foul) | |||
8:41 | +1 | Chet Holmgren makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 40-38 | |
8:26 | +3 | Jalen Williams makes three point jump shot (Cason Wallace assists) | 40-41 | |
8:09 | +2 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes two point cutting layup (Jaden Hardy assists) | 42-41 | |
7:58 | Jalen Williams misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
7:54 | Jaden Hardy defensive rebound | |||
7:48 | Tim Hardaway Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
7:43 | Daniel Gafford offensive rebound | |||
7:37 | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | |||
7:34 | Kyrie Irving offensive rebound | |||
7:32 | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 44-41 | |
7:18 | Jalen Williams turnover (lost ball) (Kyrie Irving steals) | |||
7:16 | Jalen Williams blocks Kyrie Irving's two point running layup | |||
7:16 | Mavericks offensive rebound | |||
6:59 | Daniel Gafford misses two point layup | |||
6:53 | Aaron Wiggins defensive rebound | |||
6:47 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point driving floating jump shot (Aaron Wiggins assists) | 44-43 | |
6:29 | Jaden Hardy misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
6:26 | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | |||
6:22 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 44-45 | |
6:22 | Mavericks 60 second timeout | |||
6:01 | +2 | Jaden Hardy makes two point driving layup (Tim Hardaway Jr. assists) | 46-45 | |
6:01 | Jalen Williams shooting foul (Jaden Hardy draws the foul) | |||
6:01 | +1 | Jaden Hardy makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 47-45 | |
5:39 | Josh Giddey misses three point jump shot | |||
5:36 | Kyrie Irving defensive rebound | |||
5:28 | Jaden Hardy misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
5:25 | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | |||
5:17 | Josh Giddey turnover (lost ball) (Jaden Hardy steals) | |||
5:14 | Jaylin Williams shooting foul (P.J. Washington draws the foul) | |||
5:14 | P.J. Washington misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
5:14 | Mavericks offensive rebound | |||
5:14 | +1 | P.J. Washington makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 48-45 | |
4:57 | Dereck Lively II shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | |||
4:57 |