Thunder up 2-0

Oklahoma City beat Phoenix 120-107 on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in its first-round Western Conference series. (apnews.com) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points and handed out nine assists, and the Thunder led by as many as 25 before the Suns cut into the margin late at Paycom Center. (apnews.com) Jalen Williams left in the third quarter with a left hamstring injury after missing a contested layup, and Oklahoma City finished the game without one of its top scorers and primary ballhandlers. (apnews.com) The series now shifts to Phoenix for Game 3 on Saturday, April 25, with Oklahoma City trying to protect a 2-0 edge and Phoenix trying to avoid a 3-0 hole. (cardswire.usatoday.com) Williams’ status is the immediate question for Oklahoma City because he is part of the Thunder’s core scoring group with Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, and his exit forced the team to reshuffle its rotation in the second half. (nba.com) Holmgren helped steady that group in Game 2, and Oklahoma City’s young core improved to 10-0 in first-round playoff games with the win, according to the league’s postgame takeaways. (nba.com) Phoenix still found offense through Dillon Brooks, who scored 30 points, but the Suns were outscored 35-20 in the third quarter and never fully erased Oklahoma City’s cushion. (foxsports.com) Oklahoma City entered the night with Jordan Goodwin listed out for Phoenix and Thomas Sorber inactive for the Thunder, and Williams’ injury added a new availability question as the series heads on the road. (oklahoman.com) For now, the cleanest number in the series is still 2-0: Oklahoma City has both home wins, and the next update that matters most may be Williams’ hamstring before Game 3. (news9.com)