LOS ANGELES: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rescued the Oklahoma City Thunder with a game-tying buzzer-beater before finishing with 46 points in a 129-125 overtime victory against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.
The reigning NBA champions looked to be heading for a third straight loss after the Jazz inched into a 114-112 lead following Lauri Markkanen’s layup with just three seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
But NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander drained a superb 13-foot jump shot to tie it up at 114-114 as the buzzer sounded to send the game into overtime.
Gilgeous-Alexander then took over in the extra period with nine points as the Western Conference leaders returned to winning ways after back-to-back defeats. “We just tried to stay in the moment and do whatever it took to get the W,” Gilgeous-Alexander said afterwards.
“It’s not always going to be pretty, but we’ve got to play a lot better… we’d rather learn lessons in a win than in a loss.”
Asked about his game-tying buzzer-beater, Gilgeous-Alexander added: “That’s what I practice for. I work out for the moments when the game is at its tightest and you need plays.”
Gilgeous-Alexander, who also had six rebounds and six assists, was backed with 23 points from Chet Holmgren, who pulled down 12 rebounds.
Oklahoma City improved to 31-7 at the top of the Western Conference.
Spurs down Lakers
The San Antonio Spurs took full advantage of the absence of LeBron James to secure a 107-91 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Victor Wembanyama scored 16 points from the bench while Keldon Johnson led the Spurs scorers with 27 points as San Antonio improved to 26-11. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with a game-high 38 points.
The Denver Nuggets improved to 25-12 after powering past the in-form Boston Celtics on the road. The Celtics went into the game at the TD Garden as one of the form teams of the league after eight wins from their previous nine games saw them move into third place in the Eastern Conference.
However Denver, playing without the injured Nikola Jokic, unleashed a barrage of 20 three-pointers to grab an impressive victory. Peyton Watson scored 30 points with six three-pointers while Jamal Murray finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and 17 assists. Jaylen Brown led the Boston scoring with 33 points.
At the top of the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons moved to 28-9 after a 108-93 defeat of the Chicago Bulls thanks to a 31-point performance from Isaiah Stewart.
In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid’s 28 points helped the 76ers trounce the Washington Wizards 131-110. The New York Knicks ended their four-game losing streak with a 123-111 win over the struggling Los Angeles Clippers.
Jalen Brunson scored 26 points while Karl-Anthony Towns added 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. “For the most part, we played a little desperate tonight,” Brunson said.
“We needed a win. The way we competed, the way we played, even if we were down in the first half, was Knicks basketball. “We just kept playing that way and found a way to win.” In Memphis, former Grizzlies star Dillon Brooks returned to haunt his former club with 21 points for the Phoenix Suns in a 117-98 rout. – AFP
