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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put on a dominant second-half performance, scoring 20 of his 32 points in the final two quarters, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 111-96 victory over the Houston Rockets on Saturday. The win secured Oklahoma City's spot in the NBA Cup championship game, where they will face the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.
After a slow start, the Thunder came alive in the second half, outscoring the Rockets 70-54. They went on a decisive 13-3 run late in the game, stretching their lead to 97-82 with 4:57 remaining. Gilgeous-Alexander, who struggled to find his rhythm early in the game, finished with 32 points, 20 of which came in the second half. His free-throw shooting was key to his success, as he made 14 of 15 attempts from the charity stripe.
Team Effort Propels Oklahoma City
Along with Gilgeous-Alexander's stellar play, several other Thunder players stepped up to secure the win. Isaiah Hartenstein contributed 21 points, Jalen Williams added 20, and Luguentz Dort chipped in 19 points and nine rebounds. Dort’s performance was particularly impactful, with 14 of his 19 points coming in the second half. He also made three 3-pointers in the third quarter, helping the Thunder recover after a dismal first-half shooting performance from beyond the arc.
Rockets' Offensive Struggles
The Rockets were held to just 41 points in the first half and couldn’t find a way to recover in the second. Amen Thompson led Houston with 19 points, and Alperen Sengun added 13 points and 11 rebounds. However, Houston's offensive struggles were highlighted by Fred VanVleet's continued woes from three-point range. VanVleet had been struggling with his shooting in recent games, and on Saturday, he missed his first nine attempts from long range before finishing 1-of-11 from beyond the arc.
A Tough First Half
The first half of the game was a defensive battle, with both teams shooting poorly. Oklahoma City and Houston are two of the best defensive teams in the league, and Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault described the first half as "muddled." It was the worst shooting half of the season for both teams, but despite the offensive struggles, Oklahoma City trailed by only one point at halftime.
Thunder's Offensive Surge
The second half, however, was a completely different story. Oklahoma City came out firing in the third quarter, scoring 34 points. They went 5-of-5 from 3-point range during the period, including three makes by Dort. This marked a sharp contrast to their dismal 2-of-18 shooting from beyond the arc in the first half. The Thunder also found success with uncontested field goals, making 14 of 19 attempts in the second half after hitting just 7 of 23 in the first half, according to ESPN Research.
Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Brooks
Gilgeous-Alexander’s individual battle against Team Canada teammate Dillon Brooks was one of the most intriguing storylines of the game. After struggling early, Gilgeous-Alexander dominated the second half, showcasing his scoring ability and leadership as the Thunder pulled away for the win.
What's Next: NBA Cup Final
With the victory, the Thunder extended their winning streak to five games and advanced to the NBA Cup final, where they will meet the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 110-102 earlier in the day to secure their spot in the championship game. While the NBA Cup title game doesn’t count toward the regular season standings, both teams will be looking to build momentum heading into the rest of the season.
