Gilgeous-Alexander scores 29, helps Thunder dominate Rockets

OKLAHOMA CITY(AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder created the kind of momentum theywanted to take into the All-Star break.

ShaiGilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points to help the Thunder roll pastthe Houston Rockets 133-96 on Wednesday night.

Gilgeous-Alexander was 8 of 16 on field goals and 13 of 15 on freethrows. The first-time All-Star played just three quarters becauseOklahoma City was up 116-78 heading into the fourth.

Thunder guardJosh Giddey said coach Mark Daigneault helped the team stayfocused.

“Guys knowthe break’s coming up and it’s easy to look past it and kind ofbrush this game off and just get through it and head into thebreak,” Giddey said. “But coach really emphasized running thefinish line. I think we did a really good job of that tonight.”

The Thunderenter the break with a 28-29 record after finishing last season24-58. They are positioned to make a run at a playoff spot in thesecond half of the season.

“We’re awareof the race for the play-in and the playoff spots. ... Every gamewe can get, we need,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.

Lu Dortscored 15 points, Jalen Williams had 13 and Jaylin Williams addedeight points and a season-high 16 rebounds for the Thunder, whoposted their largest victory margin of the season.

“We didn’tsettle tonight,” Daigneault said. “Transition, we got out and ran.Offensively, we hit the paint. We got to the line a ton. We got tothe rim and we sprayed the ball for open shots. I thought we madethe right play the majority of the night. So credit to the guys whoplayed together on that end.”

Jabari SmithJr. scored 15 points and Jalen Green added 14 for the Rockets, wholost their seventh straight game and enter the break with the worstrecord in the NBA.

“I’m going totake some time over the break and not think about it for a littlewhile,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. “But then I am going totake a good amount of the break and really kind of figure out whatthe next 20, however many games looks like. And maybe there’ll besome some different things, different rotations, different schemesat times.”

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 16 points in the first half to helpOklahoma City take a 76-54 lead.

The Thundercontinued to dominate, outscoring the Rockets 40-24 in the thirdquarter to put the game out of reach. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 13points in the period.

TIP-INS

Rockets: GJae’Sean Tate was issued a technical foul in the first quarterafter he disagreed with a foul that was called against him. CAlperen Sengun and F/C Usman Garuba were called for technicalslater in the quarter. ... G Kevin Porter Jr. missed his 17thstraight game with a bruised left foot. ... Garuba was issued aFlagrant 1 for a push in the fourth quarter.

Thunder:Oklahoma City was called for defensive three seconds twice in thefirst quarter. ... Held the Rockets to 22.7% shooting in the firstquarter. ... Held the Rockets to 33.7% shooting.

THUNDER DEBUT

Thunderforward/center Dario Saric debuted after he was acquired in a tradewith the Phoenix Suns. He had 12 points and five rebounds in 14minutes.

“I thought hewas good,” Daigneault said. “Plays the right way. Certainly has agreat feel for the game stylistically. Just a guy that you don’thave to over coach what we’re doing and stuff. He just kind ofplays basketball, figures things out.”