Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder overpower Raptors

Field Level Media|published: Fri 6th December, 24:52 2024

NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder at Toronto Raptors

Dec 5, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) comes down with a rebound against the Toronto Raptors during the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points and the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Toronto Raptors 129-92 on Thursday night.

Jalen Williams added 20 points for the Thunder, who have won two games in a row and six of seven. Isaiah Joe contributed 16 points and Isaiah Hartenstein had 16 rebounds and six assists.

Ajay Mitchell and Kenrich Williams each came off the Oklahoma City bench to score 13 points, and reserve Aaron Wiggins netted 12. Alex Caruso returned after missing five games with a hip injury and scored eight points.

RJ Barrett registered 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors, who had a four-game home winning streak snapped. Scottie Barnes added 12 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.

Toronto's Jonathan Mogbo also scored 17 points, Gradey Dick returned after missing five games with a calf injury and scored 15 points, and Chris Boucher added 10 points.

The Thunder led 34-17 after one quarter and opened the second quarter with a 10-4 surge. The lead reached 26 with 7:21 to play in the second quarter when Caruso hit a 3-pointer.

Barrett's layup trimmed the margin to 20 with 4:36 to go. Later, Dick and Ochai Agbaji made consecutive 3-pointers to trim the margin to 17 with 2:29 left. Williams converted a steal by Cason Wallace into a scoring layup at the buzzer to give the Thunder a 67-42 halftime lead.

The Thunder entered the game leading the league with an average of 11.9 steals per game and had nine steals in the first half. They also blocked nine shots in the half.

Oklahoma City shot 50 percent (25-for-50) from the field before intermission, while Toronto shot 32.6 percent (15-for-46).

Gilgeous-Alexander, who grew up in nearby Hamilton, Ontario, made a 15-foot fadeaway jumper to push the lead back to 26 with 9:07 left in the third quarter. Wallace's dunk and free throw made the lead 30 with 5:27 remaining, and the gap widened to 36 before the Thunder took a 99-65 lead into the fourth quarter.

Toronto scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter, but Oklahoma City answered with four straight points.

Jakob Poeltl (illness) did not play for Toronto.

--Field Level Media

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