Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points and the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder snapped the Utah Jazz’s six-game winning streak with a 134-129 win Thursday night in Salt Lake City.
Jalen Williams hit 11 of 14 shots for 27 points and added eight assists, and Josh Giddey contributed 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as the Thunder bounced back after two losses in Los Angeles.
Collin Sexton boosted Utah with 31 points and seven assists and Lauri Markkanen totaled 26 points and 10 rebounds, but Utah couldn’t complete a comeback after falling behind big early. John Collins chipped in 21 points.
This was only the Jazz’s second loss in 11 games.
Cason Wallace hit a career-high four 3-pointers to score 16 and Chet Holmgren had 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and four blocks for the Thunder.
Oklahoma City, which never trailed, shot a blistering 55.8 percent overall — 43.8 percent (14-for-32) from 3-point range — while also dishing out 36 assists.
The Jazz fell behind by 19 points in the first quarter and trailed by a dozen midway through the fourth quarter.
Sexton and Markkanen sparked a late surge to make it a four-point game in the final two minutes.
Gilgeous-Alexander then hit a long jumper and Wallace made a key 3 with 52 seconds left.
Jordan Clarkson, who scored 18 points, hit a 3 to make it a two-possession game, but the Thunder proceeded to secure the road win. Utah had chances to make it a one-possession game in the final 20 seconds but couldn’t convert.
The Thunder used a 9-0 run to snag a 19-9 lead. That momentum continued as OKC went up by 19 before settling on a 39-27 edge after one quarter.
Holmgren put Oklahoma City ahead 76-67 with a last-second 3-pointer to end the first half.
Utah chipped away at the Thunder’s lead in the third quarter, eventually pulling even at 91-91 when Walker Kessler capped a 7-0 spurt that began with a Sexton 3-pointer.
Isaiah Joe ended Oklahoma City’s cold snap with a 3. The Thunder rushed back ahead in the fourth quarter, taking a 113-102 lead after Williams hit a 3-pointer. During that decisive stretch, the Thunder scored 15 points in just over three minutes.
–Field Level Media
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