Gilgeous-Alexander to the rescue as Thunder sink Jazz in overtime
OKLAHOMA CITY – When the Utah Jazz took a two-point lead with just 3.2 seconds remaining in regulation, the Oklahoma City Thunder stared down the barrel of a third consecutive defeat. The Paycom Center fell silent as Lauri Markkanen’s reverse putback seemed to seal the upset. However, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had one more miracle in his bag, proving exactly why he wears the crown of the league’s reigning MVP.
Gilgeous-Alexander drained a contested 13-foot jumper as the buzzer sounded, knotting the score at 114 and forcing an extra period where he would ultimately bury the Jazz. The superstar guard finished with a chaotic, brilliant 46 points, scoring nine in overtime to lift the Thunder to a 129-125 victory.
"That's what I practice for," Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters postgame. "I work out for the moments when the game is at its tightest."
His heroics extended a historic tear, marking his 109th consecutive game with at least 20 points—the second-longest streak in NBA history. While his scoring stole the headlines, his efficiency was lethal; he shot 14-of-26 from the field and a near-perfect 17-of-19 from the charity stripe.
In overtime, the Thunder found crucial support from Chet Holmgren, who delivered the dagger with a thunderous putback slam off a Gilgeous-Alexander miss to break a late tie. Holmgren finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds, providing the necessary muscle inside against a physical Jazz frontcourt.
Utah, now losers of five straight, played better than their slump suggests. Lauri Markkanen led the way with 29 points and 13 boards, while guard Keyonte George dazzled with 25 points and 11 assists. The Jazz controlled much of the fourth quarter, erasing a deficit and briefly looking like the superior team, but they simply had no answer for Oklahoma City's closer.
With the win, the Thunder improve to 31-7, maintaining their stranglehold on the Western Conference's top seed. For a team coming off rare back-to-back losses, Wednesday’s thriller wasn’t just a win; it was a reminder that as long as Gilgeous-Alexander is on the floor, they are never truly out of the fight.
Gilgeous-Alexander drained a contested 13-foot jumper as the buzzer sounded, knotting the score at 114 and forcing an extra period where he would ultimately bury the Jazz. The superstar guard finished with a chaotic, brilliant 46 points, scoring nine in overtime to lift the Thunder to a 129-125 victory.
"That's what I practice for," Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters postgame. "I work out for the moments when the game is at its tightest."
His heroics extended a historic tear, marking his 109th consecutive game with at least 20 points—the second-longest streak in NBA history. While his scoring stole the headlines, his efficiency was lethal; he shot 14-of-26 from the field and a near-perfect 17-of-19 from the charity stripe.
In overtime, the Thunder found crucial support from Chet Holmgren, who delivered the dagger with a thunderous putback slam off a Gilgeous-Alexander miss to break a late tie. Holmgren finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds, providing the necessary muscle inside against a physical Jazz frontcourt.
Utah, now losers of five straight, played better than their slump suggests. Lauri Markkanen led the way with 29 points and 13 boards, while guard Keyonte George dazzled with 25 points and 11 assists. The Jazz controlled much of the fourth quarter, erasing a deficit and briefly looking like the superior team, but they simply had no answer for Oklahoma City's closer.
With the win, the Thunder improve to 31-7, maintaining their stranglehold on the Western Conference's top seed. For a team coming off rare back-to-back losses, Wednesday’s thriller wasn’t just a win; it was a reminder that as long as Gilgeous-Alexander is on the floor, they are never truly out of the fight.
