Oklahoma City ended a three-game losing run with their second straight victory in their first game back at the Paycom Center following a protracted road trip.
Oklahoma City won its second straight game at the Paycom Center after a lengthy road trip, snapping a three-game losing run.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams returned to the floor for the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night, and they helped the club win 112-105 over the Sacramento Kings.
After dropping three straight road games while Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams were out with injury, OKC managed a three-point victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday before returning to full strength and defeating the Kings two days later.
The victory moves the Thunder to 54-25 on the season, one game behind Minnesota and Denver in the Western Conference standings. OKC is also three games ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers and five games ahead of Dallas, with each team having three regular-season games remaining.
Here are three key takeaways from the Thunder’s home win over Sacramento.
SGA dazzles when returning to the court.
Oklahoma City’s MVP contender has missed six of the team’s previous seven games due to a quad injury, and is resting in preparation for the NBA Playoffs.
After being significantly restricted in his previous game against the New York Knicks, Gilgeous-Alexander appeared entirely healthy on Tuesday night, scoring 40 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and two steals in 38 minutes.
SGA’s sixth 40-point effort of the season featured what proved to be the game changer, as the outstanding guard moved away from his defender and nailed a stunning mid-range shot with less than a minute and a half remaining in the fourth quarter.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s clutch jumper gave the Thunder a three-point advantage, which the Kings were unable to overcome.
In addition to finishing 2-for-3 from three, the All-NBA guard made 20 free throw attempts against Sacramento.
Despite opening up a double-digit lead in the first half, the Kings struggled from the field all night.
Sacramento shot 34.4% from the floor and 34.5% from beyond the arc, but struggled to find a consistent rhythm on offense in the second half. With the exception of Keon Ellis, who made an impressive eight 3-pointers, every Kings player shot far below 50% from the floor against Oklahoma City on Tuesday night.
Domantas Sabonis, a former Thunder big man, had an especially poor night, going 2-of-8 from the field and finished with only eight points. Prior to Tuesday’s game, Sabonis had 61 straight double-doubles, but that streak came to an end against the Thunder.
On the season, Sabonis averages 19.5 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game while shooting 59.5% from the floor.
Oklahoma City recorded 11 thefts and eight blocks in the game, while the Kings committed 17 turnovers, including five by outstanding player De’Aaron Fox.
J-Dub seems rusty in his first game back.
Williams returned to action after missing four consecutive games due to injury, and while he had a respectable effort, he did not make the same effect he typically does.
Williams shot 5-of-11 from the field in 36 minutes, totaling 11 points, six rebounds, four assists, and one steal. The second-year wing attempted no free throws and only two long-range attempts.
William’s point total was much lower than his season average of 19.5 points per game, but the Santa Clara product didn’t need to play as much since Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Lu Dort filled in for him.
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