Thunder send depleted Warriors to worst loss of season

Field Level Media|published: Sat 3rd January, 24:52 2026

Jan 2, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives against Golden State Warriors guard Will Richard (center left) during the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 30 points in 28 minutes, Chet Holmgren gathered 15 rebounds as part of a double-double and the Oklahoma City Thunder thumped the short-handed Golden State Warriors 131-94 on Friday night in San Francisco.

Holmgren added 15 points and four blocks to his game-high rebound total. Backup Branden Carlson recorded the second double-double of his two-year career with 15 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Thunder record a third straight win over the Warriors this season.

The 37-point margin of victory was Oklahoma City's second-largest of the season. The drubbing was the Warriors' worst of the 2025-26 campaign.

Beginning a stretch of 10 of 11 at home, Golden State saw a two-game winning streak end despite 13 points apiece from Moses Moody, Will Richard and Al Horford.

Playing without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green on the front end of a back-to-back, the Warriors managed to hang within 38-36 in the game's 17th minute after a Richard 3-pointer.

But the Thunder responded with a 19-0 flurry. Holmgren, Ajay Mitchell and Luguentz Dort all buried 3-pointers in the run that expanded the advantage to 57-36 with 2:59 left in the half.

The Warriors got no closer than 16 after that.

Gilgeous-Alexander reached 30 points for the third straight game and 26th time this season. He did so by hitting 10 of his 20 shots and all seven of his free throws, while also finding time for a team-high seven assists.

Aaron Wiggins (15), Jalen Williams (12), Dort (11) and Mitchell (11) also scored in double figures for Oklahoma City, which improved to 30-5, three wins off the Warriors' 35-game pace en route to their record-breaking 73-9 season in 2016.

The Thunder shot 52.2% overall (48 of 92) and 42.1% on 3-pointers (16 of 38). They made all 19 of their foul shots.

Taking advantage of 31 minutes of playing time, Pat Spencer recorded a game-high 11 assists for the Warriors, who will host the Utah Jazz on Saturday.

Brandin Podziemski chipped in 12 points, Quinten Post and Buddy Hield 11 apiece, and Trayce Jackson-Davis snatched a team-high nine rebounds to go with seven points for Golden State, which shot just 35.6% overall (32 of 90) and 29.5% from deep (13 of 44).

--Field Level Media

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