In a dominant performance on Tuesday night, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 118-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander exploded for 39 points, spearheading a Thunder squad that took control of the game in the second half, eventually securing their spot in the semifinals in Las Vegas.
Oklahoma City, looking to avenge last season’s playoff loss to Dallas, came out strong with a 57-54 lead at halftime. Despite Luka Doncic’s usual brilliance, the Thunder’s elite perimeter defense, led by Lu Dort and supported by Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace, kept the Mavericks star in check. Doncic managed just two points on 1-for-7 shooting by the break.
Gilgeous-Alexander took over in the third quarter, scoring 16 of his 39 points on 7-for-8 shooting. He led an explosive 13-2 run to open the second half, pushing the Thunder’s lead to 70-56. By the end of the quarter, Oklahoma City had opened up a commanding 90-73 advantage, thanks in part to Isaiah Joe’s deep 3-pointer at the buzzer.
On the other side, the Mavericks struggled with mistakes and turnovers throughout the game, committing 19 turnovers, which the Thunder converted into 36 points. Despite the efforts of Klay Thompson (19 points), Naji Marshall (19 points), and Kyrie Irving (17 points), Dallas couldn’t find a rhythm, shooting just 6-for-19 in the third quarter after a solid first half.
Isaiah Hartenstein also played a pivotal role for Oklahoma City, posting a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds, helping the Thunder dominate the boards 52-44. Let’s grade the fantastic performances of the Thunder players in an impressive showing.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A+
Stats: 39 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, 15-23 FG, 5-9 3PT FG, 4-4 FT, +22 +/-, 38 mins
Prime MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the undeniable leader for the Thunder, putting up a stellar 39-point performance while adding eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals. His shooting efficiency (15-23 FG, 5-9 3PT) and flawless free throw shooting (4-4 FT) were instrumental in breaking the game open in the second half. His ability to take over in the third quarter, scoring 16 points, ensured Oklahoma City would stay in control throughout. An all-around dominant performance.
Jalen Williams: B+
Stats: 18 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 0 steals, 1 block, 4 turnovers, 2 fouls, 8-21 FG, 0-3 3PT FG, 2-2 FT, +5 +/-, 32 mins
Jalen Williams contributed 18 points and seven rebounds in 32 minutes, though his shooting was a bit inconsistent (8-21 FG, 0-3 3PT). He played a solid all-around game, adding four assists, and provided defensive support with a block. Despite a few turnovers (4), Williams’ impact on both ends of the floor was positive, helping the Thunder maintain their momentum.
Isaiah Hartenstein: B+
Stats: 10 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, 5-11 FG, 0-1 3PT FG, 0-1 FT, -6 +/-, 30 mins
Hartenstein posted a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds, adding a block and a steal. His presence on the boards (52-44 advantage for OKC) was crucial, and his three assists helped keep the offense flowing. Although his shooting was somewhat inefficient (5-11 FG), he was still a key factor in securing the win.
Luguentz Dort: B
Stats: 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 0 turnovers, 3 fouls, 4-10 FG, 3-7 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, 0 +/-, 32 mins
Dort scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds, shooting 4-10 from the field and 3-7 from deep. He was a key defensive contributor, especially in limiting Luka Doncic’s impact, and added a steal and a block to his stat line. His efficient scoring and hustle on defense made him an essential part of the Thunder’s success.
Cason Wallace: B
Stats: 11 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 4-10 FG, 3-9 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, +15 +/-, 31 mins
Wallace filled up the stat sheet with 11 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. He also contributed defensively, with two steals and a block. While his shooting (4-10 FG, 3-9 3PT) wasn’t exceptional, he was solid on both ends of the floor and played with intensity. His +15 +/- was one of the best on the team, highlighting his positive influence during his 31 minutes of play.
Alex Caruso: B
Stats: 6 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 0 blocks, 1 turnover, 0 fouls, 2-7 FG, 2-6 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, +2 +/-, 22 mins
Caruso played a solid all-around game, contributing six points, four rebounds, and four assists in 22 minutes. His perimeter defense was once again top-notch, but his shooting (2-7 FG, 2-6 3PT) left something to be desired. He had a positive impact in the win but wasn’t as effective offensively as some other teammates.
Dillon Jones: C+
Stats: 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, 1 foul, 3-5 FG, 3-4 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, +17 +/-, 17 mins
Jones provided a solid spark off the bench, scoring nine points in just 17 minutes. He was efficient from deep (3-4 3PT) and also added three steals. While his overall impact was limited due to his brief playing time, his ability to contribute quickly was a positive for the Thunder.
Isaiah Joe: C+
Stats: 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, 1 foul, 3-8 FG, 3-8 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, +11 +/-, 17 mins
Joe contributed nine points in 17 minutes, hitting three 3-pointers, but his shooting (3-8 FG, 3-8 3PT) was inconsistent. Despite his scoring, he didn’t contribute much else (3 rebounds, 3 assists), and his overall impact was fairly modest, though he played a part in maintaining the lead.
Kenrich Williams: N/A
Stats: 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, 0 fouls, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, +2 +/-, 1 min
Kenrich Williams had minimal impact, playing just one minute and failing to register any stat so he doesn’t get a grade.
Branden Carlson: N/A
Stats: 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, 0 fouls, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, +2 +/-, 1 min
Carlson also played just one minute without making any contributions in the box score and he doesn’t receive a grade either.
Aaron Wiggins: N/A
Stats: 3 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 1-2 FG, 1-2 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, +8 +/-, 9 mins
Wiggins provided some brief help off the bench, scoring three points in nine minutes, but didn’t play enough to make a significant impact.
Ajay Mitchell: N/A
Stats: 2 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 1-3 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, -8 +/-, 10 mins
Mitchell played 10 minutes, scoring two points while adding one rebound and two assists. His performance was quiet, as he didn’t make a significant impact during his time on the floor.
With the win, Oklahoma City advances to the NBA Cup semifinals, where they will play the winner of Wednesday’s matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets.
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