OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their impressive run, securing their fourth consecutive victory with a 124-108 win against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 24 points and six assists, while Josh Giddey contributed 20 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Rookie Chet Holmgren added a double-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks, helping Oklahoma City to a 22-9 record, placing them second in the Western Conference.
Reflecting on the team’s progress, Gilgeous-Alexander said, “We’ve gotten a lot better. We’ve put in a lot of work. I expect us to get better. I’m not surprised. We’ve got to keep going and keep getting better.” The Thunder have a notable 12-4 record in New Year’s Eve games since relocating to Oklahoma City.
A pivotal moment came when Holmgren and Jalen Williams, who scored 17 points, spearheaded a 16-8 run, pushing the Thunder’s lead from seven to 102-87 with just under nine minutes remaining. This surge effectively sealed the game, with the Thunder eventually stretching their lead to 21 points.
Mikal Bridges stood out for Brooklyn with 22 points, 15 of which came in the first quarter, along with seven rebounds and seven assists. Cam Thomas added 20 points, but the Nets struggled as a whole, particularly with their shooting, converting only 38% from the field and 26.1% from the three-point line. Despite committing only six turnovers, the Nets’ inability to contain Oklahoma City’s offense was evident as they dropped to 1-16 in games where they allow 120 or more points.
Brooklyn coach Jacque Vaughn lamented the missed opportunities, saying, “You look at the stat sheet and we did some really good things tonight. … It was just one of those nights the ball didn’t go in for you.”
The Nets started strong, hitting their first five shots, including three 3-pointers, to build a 10-point lead in the first quarter. However, the Thunder shot 54.6% in the first half to take a 59-56 lead at the break. The third quarter saw the Thunder extend their lead, with a key 3-pointer by Holmgren marking the beginning of their decisive run.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault attributed the win to shooting variance, saying, “Tonight it was a variance night. … There’s nights when the other team makes shots and you don’t, and tonight was the night we made shots and they didn’t.”
The Nets will look to rebound when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, while the Thunder host the Boston Celtics on the same day.
