Thunder pummel turnover-plagued Jazz 133-106

Field Level Media|published: Tue 3rd December, 22:52 2024

Dec 3, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) shoots a three point basket over Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) during the first quarter of an NBA Cup game at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Jalen Williams scored 28 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander netted 26 to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 133-106 home win over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday in an NBA Cup game.

The Thunder finished 3-1 in the West B Group stage, keeping alive their hopes of advancing to the knockout rounds. Oklahoma City has won five of its last six.

The Jazz finished winless in the event and lost their fifth consecutive game overall.

Utah lost despite shooting a season-high 54.3 percent from the floor, but it attempted 32 fewer shots than Oklahoma City.

The Thunder pulled away from Utah with relentless defensive pressure, forcing 29 turnovers -- tying their high since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City held a 45-10 edge in points off turnovers and tied a season high with 18 steals.

Oklahoma City came into the game leading the league in turnovers forced, while Utah turned the ball over more than any other team in the NBA.

Utah got off to a hot shooting start, making 7 of its first 11 shots to jump to a nine-point lead midway through the first quarter.

But even then, Oklahoma City was forcing the Jazz into turnovers.

Then the Thunder reeled off a 22-6 run to close the quarter and take control with a 32-25 lead.

The first quarter ended with a steal by Aaron Wiggins steal and three consecutive offensive rebounds by Oklahoma City before Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a layup.

That run expanded to 28-6 early in the second quarter, and Utah didn't pull closer than six again.

By the time the Thunder went into halftime with a 12-point lead, they had forced 19 turnovers.

Oklahoma City then blew the game open in the third, going 16 of 20 from the field and scoring 11 of their 40 third-quarter points off Utah turnovers to lead by as many as 33 points.

Cason Wallace was the only Oklahoma City starter to play in the fourth quarter, after the Thunder took a 27-point lead into the final frame.

Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton scored 17 points each to lead six Jazz players in double digits. Kessler also had 11 rebounds.

--Field Level Media

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