(Oklahoma City) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander provided 31 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder joined the Denver Nuggets atop the West on Thursday, inflicting a 126-119 loss on the Dallas Mavericks.
The Ontarian also collected nine rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Jalen Williams added 27 points. He returned to the game after right ankle problems kept him sidelined Tuesday in a loss to the Indiana Pacers.
“He’s getting more and more comfortable every game,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of Williams. He sees new patterns on defense. He works hard and gets better every time. »
Williams also had three blocks, five assists and a steal.
He signed a high-caliber block in the second quarter against Kyrie Irving, who had just stolen the ball from him at midfield.
Josh Giddey scored 18 points, Montrealer Luguentz Dort 12 and Chet Holmgren 11.
Dort was 3-for-6 on three-pointers. For three games, he has a success rate of 10 in 16 in this regard (62.5%).
“We distributed the ball very well,” said coach Mark Daigneault. We responded well after the game against the Pacers, where we didn’t really find our rhythm. That’s what we want to see, a group that gets back on its feet very quickly. »
OKC led 65-63 at the half. The club had a 30-24 advantage in the third quarter, staying the course after that.
Early in the third quarter, a three-pointer from Dort kicked off a 12-2 Thunder surge.
Irving had 36 points and 12 assists, while Tim Hardaway scored 23 points.
Dallas was without NBA leading scorer Luka Doncic, who was injured in the back of his left thigh. His case does not appear to be of long-term concern.
The Thunder will play again Saturday night against the Grizzlies in Memphis.