The Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday bagged a 16th straight victory, thrashing the Phoenix Suns 138-89 to romp into an NBA Cup semi-final clash with the San Antonio Spurs, who stunned the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119.
NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points to lead the reigning NBA champions Thunder, who improved to 24-1 to equal the best 25-game start to a season in league history.
They dominated from start to finish to book their place in the final four of the in-season tournament in Las Vegas, where they are tomorrow to take on the Spurs.
Photo: AP
The New York Knicks and Orlando Magic are also to meet for a place in Tuesday’s final.
In Los Angeles, Stephon Castle scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and De’Aaron Fox added 20 to lead San Antonio, who beat the Lakers despite the continued absence of French superstar Victor Wembanyama.
While Wembanyama missed his 12th game with a calf injury, San Antonio have won nine games.
Photo: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Coach Mitch Johnson said before the contest that Wembanyama was “very, very close” to a return.
Seven Spurs players — including three reserves — scored in double figures as San Antonio withstood a 35-point performance from Lakers star Luka Doncic.
“We all just want to win,” Fox said. “We don’t care who does it. We just want to get it done at the end of the day. So we have a very versatile team, very deep team. So it’s a lot of guys that can get it done every night.”
Photo: AP
Marcus Smart returned from injury to score 26 off the bench for the Lakers and LeBron James added 19.
However, Los Angeles struggled to find a way to slow down the speedy Spurs, who held the advantage in fast-break points and second-chance points, and scored 16 points off 11 Lakers turnovers.
The Spurs shrugged off a slow start and followed a late first-quarter surge with an 8-0 run to start the second.
Trailing by as many as 24 early in the fourth quarter, the Lakers cut the deficit to eight, but the Spurs had an answer to every push Los Angeles made.
“We had some good moments, but the majority of the game we were playing uphill too much,” James said.
On Wednesday’s evidence, few would bet against Oklahoma City completing an NBA Finals-NBA Cup double after a superb performance before their home crowd at the Paycom Center.
“We hold ourselves to a high standard and most importantly it’s about us getting better,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after an offensive display that included 22 Thunder three-pointers.
“We just moved the ball really well. Played together, very decisive on offense and tried to play through our comfort zone and when we do that we’re a pretty good offense,” added Gilgeous-Alexander, who has scored 20 points or more in 96 consecutive games.
Oklahoma City are aiming to go one better in the NBA Cup than they did last season, when they reached the final only to be upset by the Milwaukee Bucks.
“We should be in a good position — we’ve got a lot better since last year,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
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