Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 points, seven assists and no turnovers, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 127-108 home win over the Washington Wizards on Thursday.
The Thunder remained undefeated, winning their sixth consecutive game. The defending NBA champions are 6-0 for the second consecutive season after starting their championship season with seven straight victories.
Oklahoma City turned up the heat defensively from the start, scoring 26 points off 23 Wizards’ turnovers while the Thunder turned the ball over just six times.
By eight minutes into the game, Oklahoma City had taken the lead for good, doing so with eight consecutive points, the first five of which came from Gilgeous-Alexander.
The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player scored 13 of his points in the first to help Oklahoma City gain control. Eight of the Thunder’s 28 first-quarter points came off Washington turnovers.
The Thunder controlled the game despite the Wizards shooting 45.2% from the field, better than Oklahoma City’s 44.9%.
Cason Wallace led the Thunder with four steals, and Oklahoma City recorded 16 overall.
After missing the first four games due to an offseason thumb injury, Bilal Coulibaly made his season debut for the Wizards. Coulibaly scored 16 points and added eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks in more than 24 minutes.
CJ McCollum scored 19 points to lead the Wizards, who lost for the third consecutive game. McCollum was 5-of-8 from beyond the 3-point line.
The Thunder got 52 points from its bench, including 20 points each from Ajay Mitchell and Isaiah Joe.
Joe, who was also making his debut after missing the start of the season due to injury, hit five 3-pointers.
Oklahoma City hit a season-high 16 3-pointers.
The Thunder were without Chet Holmgren, who missed his second consecutive game with lower back soreness.
Even without Holmgren, Oklahoma City dominated in the paint, outscoring the Wizards 50-36 there, and outscored Washington 14-6 on the fast break.
The Thunder led by eight points going into the fourth quarter, and with Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench, stretched the lead out to 24 over the first six minutes, allowing Gilgeous-Alexander to rest for the final quarter.
