OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points, and the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder beat San Antonio 119-98 on Tuesday night to earn their first win in four tries against the Spurs this season.<\/p>\n
Jalen Williams added 20 points and Chet Holmgren chipped in eight points, 10 rebounds and three blocks for Oklahoma City. The Thunder improved to a league-best 34-7 at the midway point of the season \u2014 on pace to match last season\u2019s 68-14 regular-season finish.<\/p>\n
Stephon Castle scored 20 points and Victor Wembanyama added 17 points and seven rebounds for the Spurs.<\/p>\n
San Antonio started the night in second place behind Oklahoma City in the Western Conference standings. The Spurs announced their presence as a title contender with the three wins over the Thunder in a two-week span last month, but now they have lost six of 10.<\/p>\n
Oklahoma City started this season with a 24-1 record, then hit a lull that included the three losses to the Spurs. The Thunder have recovered and now have won four straight.<\/p>\n
Oklahoma City won without two starters \u2014 top rebounder Isaiah Hartenstein and defensive stopper Lu Dort. The Thunder still held the Spurs to 40% shooting from the floor.<\/p>\n
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 13 points in the first quarter to help the Thunder take a 32-26 lead. The Thunder led 55-52 at halftime.<\/p>\n
In the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander scored and was fouled, and his free throw gave the Thunder a 73-62 lead. It also gave him his 111th consecutive game with at least 20 points, extending the second-longest streak in NBA history. <\/p>\n
Gilgeous-Alexander eventually finished with 15 points in the quarter, and Oklahoma City took a 95-76 lead into the fourth. <\/p>\n
The teams will play for the last time this regular season on Feb. 4 in San Antonio.<\/p>\n
Spurs: Host the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Thunder: Visit the Houston Rockets on Thursday.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n