Thunder go up 2-0
- The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Phoenix Suns 120-107 in Game 2 to take a 2-0 playoff lead. (oklahoman.com) - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander starred in the win, with the game featured in the NBA's Game 2 highlight package. (youtube.com) - The result gives Oklahoma City early control of the series as the first-round bracket continues to unfold. (oklahoman.com)
Oklahoma City is heading to Phoenix with a 2-0 lead after beating the Suns 120-107 in Game 2 on Wednesday night. (apnews.com) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points and handed out nine assists after going 13-for-25 from the field and 9-for-9 at the line. Chet Holmgren added 19 points, and Jalen Williams scored 19 in 23 minutes before leaving in the third quarter with a left hamstring injury. (nba.com, nba.com) Phoenix got 30 points from Dillon Brooks, 22 from Devin Booker and 21 from Jalen Green, but the Suns turned the ball over 21 times. Oklahoma City finished with 14 steals, forced those 21 giveaways and shot 47.3% from the field. (nba.com) The series now shifts to Game 3 on Saturday, April 25, in Phoenix, with Oklahoma City up 2-0 in the Western Conference first round. The NBA playoff bracket lists Game 4 for Monday, April 27, and Games 5 through 7, if needed, from April 29 through May 3. (nba.com, nba.com) Oklahoma City avoided the early playoff slipups that hit other higher seeds this week. The NBA’s playoff page says the Thunder’s young core improved to 10-0 in first-round playoff games with Wednesday’s win. (nba.com, nba.com) Game 2 also changed the immediate health picture for the series. Williams had missed 30 games this season with a right hamstring injury, and the Thunder now head on the road waiting on updates after he hurt the left hamstring Wednesday. (nba.com) The Thunder led 65-57 at halftime after Williams opened 7-for-7 from the field and Gilgeous-Alexander scored 17 points before the break. Phoenix cut into the margin late, but Oklahoma City closed it out behind Gilgeous-Alexander and a late 3-pointer from Luguentz Dort. (nba.com, espn.com) Two games in, the series has given Oklahoma City the start it wanted: one efficient night from Gilgeous-Alexander, one 2-0 edge, and home court preserved before the flight to Phoenix. (apnews.com, nba.com)
