HOUSTON — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 factors and Chet Holmgren added 29 to steer the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder to a 123-110 victory over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night time.
The Thunder gained their fifth straight to maneuver right into a tie with Minnesota for first place within the Western Convention.
Oklahoma Metropolis was up by eight factors with lower than seven minutes left earlier than scoring the following 9 factors, capped by 3-pointers from Jalen Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander to push the benefit to 115-98 with 3 1/2 minutes to go.
Fred VanVleet and Jabari Smith Jr. had 20 factors apiece for the Rockets within the first of consecutive video games between these groups. Alperen Sengun added 19 factors and 12 rebounds, whereas Smith led the group with 17 boards.
The groups meet once more on Tuesday night time in Oklahoma Metropolis.
The Thunder held a four-point result in begin the fourth and used a 12-2 run to push their benefit to 99-85 with 9 1/2 minutes to go. Holmgren had the primary 9 factors in that span and had two dunks and a 3-pointer.
Houston received inside 104-95 a few minutes later. Dillon Brooks and VanVleet each made 3s for Houston to trim the deficit, however the Rockets have been unable to get any nearer.
The Rockets led by as many as 16 within the second quarter and have been up by 9 with about eight minutes to go within the third earlier than Oklahoma Metropolis used a 16-2 run to take an 80-75 lead with lower than three minutes left within the quarter.
Williams began the run with a 3-pointer and Isaiah Joe added a 3 in that stretch to permit the Thunder to go on prime.
The Rockets scored the following six factors to regain the lead, however Oklahoma Metropolis ended the quarter with a 7-2 run to take an 87-83 lead within the fourth.
