NBA: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, triple-happy Thunder defeat Hawks
Feb 28, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the host Atlanta Hawks 135-119 in the NBA on Friday night.
Luguentz Dort (20 points, 6-of-11 shooting on 3-pointers) and Jalen Williams (20, 4-of-8) played valuable supporting hands for the Thunder, who hit 23 of 50 attempts from downtown.
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The only negative for Oklahoma City came when Chet Holmgren suffered a left ankle sprain in the first quarter. The 22-year-old center, who missed nearly three months earlier this season with a pelvic fracture, was ruled out of the game when he checked out with 1:43 left in the first half.
Onyeka Okongwu posted 23 points and 13 rebounds for Atlanta, Caris LeVert added 23 points off the bench and Trae Young combined 19 points with 12 assists.
The Thunder sprinted out of the blocks and dominated the first period, at the end of which they led 40-23 after Isaiah Joe drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer, his third.
Oklahoma City hit 16 of 26 from the floor for the quarter, including 7 of 12 from 3-point range, while forcing the Hawks into seven turnovers at the other end.
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Joe’s fourth trey early in the second blew the Thunder’s advantage out to 45-25.
The visitors knocked down 11 of their first 16 threes before losing their way momentarily as Okongwu and Georges Niang piloted a 14-0 Atlanta burst.
The Hawks sliced Oklahoma City’s cushion to 71-64 at halftime.
The Thunder still led by 10 in the third frame before reasserting their authority when Dort and Gilgeous-Alexander spearheaded a withering 17-0 spree, which comprised five 3-pointers, as the margin swelled to 108-81.
Oklahoma City hit 9 of 15 threes for the quarter, Dort draining 4 of 6.
LeVert and Young helped Atlanta scale the deficit back to 11 points in the fourth, but the gap was always going to be beyond the Hawks. –Field Level Media
