The 120-107 victory brought the defending champions closer to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs, but Jalen Williams’ injury is a cause for concern.
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Phoenix Suns 120-107 at home this morning, putting them up a 2-0 lead in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Not everything was positive for the home team, as the game was also marked by Jalen Williams’ injury, who left during the third quarter complaining of pain in his left leg. Coach Mark Daigneault stated after the game that it is likely a hamstring injury.
The game was dominated by the reigning champions, who were at a disadvantage for a moment in the first quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stood out again, with 37 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists. Chet Holmgren was also in good form, particularly defensively, with 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Jalen Williams was having a good performance until his injury, scoring 19 points when he had to leave the court.
For the Suns, Devin Booker, the team’s star, scored 22 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and dished out 4 assists, but the standout player was Dillon Brooks, who scored 30 points and also grabbed 5 rebounds. The Canadian led the comeback in the final quarter (the only one in which the Suns had a winning streak), scoring 13 points in four minutes, but it wasn’t enough for the team to secure home-court advantage in Oklahoma.
The next game, in Phoenix, will be played on Saturday at 8:30 PM Portuguese time.
