The Oklahoma City Thunder secured a thrilling 123-114 victory over the Utah Jazz, improving their record to 36-7 this season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander highlighted the match with a career-best performance, scoring 54 points on 17-for-35 shooting.
Despite being short-handed, the Thunder capitalized on a defensive showcase, forcing 27 turnovers from the Jazz, which led to 39 points off those miscues. The Jazz initially held a lead in the first quarter, aided by contributions from Keyonte George and Walker Kessler, but OKC's defense tightened, turning the game in their favor.
Alex Caruso’s defensive prowess was pivotal, recording five steals and inspiring the Thunder’s resurgence. Gilgeous-Alexander maintained his scoring spree, particularly thriving at the free throw line, going 17-for-18. The matchup showcased a competitive fourth quarter, but a late burst from OKC helped seal the win.
