The Oklahoma City Thunder are a win away from sweeping the Phoenix Suns in their first-round playoff series, after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dismantled the Suns’ defense in a 121-109 win Saturday afternoon at Mortgage Matchup Center.

With backcourt mate Jalen Williams out with a hamstring injury, Gilgeous-Alexander carried the load Saturday, hitting his first nine shots en route to a 42-point, eight-assist afternoon. Ten other Thunder players scored, and Ajay Mitchell added 15 points as he started for Williams.

The Thunder withstood an early surge that saw the Suns ahead 24-15 with 3:39 left in the first quarter. They moved ahead by outscoring Phoenix 18-4 to close out the quarter, then took a 62-53 halftime lead that they never relinquished.

Guard Devin Booker, fined $35,000 for criticizing officials after Game 2, struggled with 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting and was one of four Suns starters to score in double figures. But the Phoenix bench managed just 12 points, with Grayson Allen (7 points, 2-of-8 shooting) unable to make much of an impact in his return from a hamstring strain.

Here are some takeaways with the Thunder ahead 3-0 in the series and Game 4 set for Monday night in Phoenix.

SGA puts on the cape

Without his All-NBA teammate, Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP shell hatched. He rose to the occasion, delivering his best performance of the series — and, perhaps, of any first-round series he’s ever played.

For all his usage, and for all the varying attempts at slowing him down, Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a playoff career-high 42 points on 15-of-18 shooting.

In what felt like Phoenix’s best wire-to-wire push yet, Gilgeous-Alexander’s presence mitigated the runs. He brought momentum and stability at the end of quarters. He brought explosive emotion when he felt his drives weren’t rewarded. Through waves of defenders — and a desperate stretch where Suns center Oso Ighodaro picked him up for full court — Gilgeous-Alexander sliced through contact.

Oklahoma City needed him to put on the cape, and he did. — Joel Lorenzi

Can the Suns get one game?

The Suns were better in Game 3. For most of the contest. In certain areas.

They reduced turnovers. They fouled less and kept Oklahoma City off the offensive glass as much as possible. But it made little difference.

The outcome of this series has been suggested from the start. Top-seeded Oklahoma City would advance; it was just a matter of games. Specifically, could the Suns win one in Phoenix? It’s not looking good.

Oklahoma City was without Williams. Mortgage Matchup Center was hosting playoff basketball for the first time since 2024. Surely, Phoenix fans would be loud and ready to go. (It took them a while.) The result didn’t change. The Suns had no answer for Gilgeous-Alexander. (Few teams do.) They had a couple of bursts but nothing that threatened the Thunder’s grip.

For the Suns, the most interesting development of this series hasn’t even happened on the court. It was Booker’s comments about the officiating after Game 2 in Oklahoma City. That kind of speaks for itself. They have one more chance. — Doug Haller