Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Gilgeous-Alexander scores 32 as Thunder bounce back from rare loss with 122-101 win over Clippers

Gilgeous-Alexander scores 32 as Thunder bounce back from rare loss with 122-101 win over Clippers | iNFOnews.ca
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives past Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points before resting in the fourth quarter, and the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back from a rare loss to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 122-101 on Thursday night.

The Thunder lost to the San Antonio Spurs last Saturday for just their second defeat of the season, ending their team-record, 16-game win streak. They recovered on Thursday after some much-needed rest and improved to 25-2 overall and 13-0 at home.

Gilgeous-Alexander made 13 of 24 shots and had seven rebounds and six assists. It was his 98th consecutive game with at least 20 points, adding to the second-longest streak in NBA history.

Chet Holmgren scored 22 points and Jalen Williams added 20 for Oklahoma City.

James Harden, who leads the Clippers with 26 points per game, sat out with a bruised left calf. Without its star point guard, Los Angeles committed 28 turnovers, leading to 39 Oklahoma City points. Cason Wallace had five of Oklahoma City’s 18 steals.

Oklahoma City committed just nine turnovers.

Kawhi Leonard scored 22 points and John Collins added 20 for the Clippers, have lost five straight and 10 of 11.

The Clippers led for most of the first quarter and the early part of the second before the Thunder found their rhythm. Holmgren scored 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting in the first half to help the Thunder take a 64-55 lead at the break.

Oklahoma City took control for good in the third quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 19 points in the period to give the Thunder a 103-83 lead heading into the fourth. Oklahoma City shot 55.6% from the field in the period while outscoring the Clippers 39-28.

Up next

Clippers: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.

Thunder: Visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Gilgeous-Alexander scores 32 as Thunder bounce back from rare loss with 122-101 win over Clippers | iNFOnews.ca
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) screens Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) as Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) pushes downcourt during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Gilgeous-Alexander scores 32 as Thunder bounce back from rare loss with 122-101 win over Clippers | iNFOnews.ca
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) looks to shoot over Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Gilgeous-Alexander scores 32 as Thunder bounce back from rare loss with 122-101 win over Clippers | iNFOnews.ca
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Gilgeous-Alexander scores 32 as Thunder bounce back from rare loss with 122-101 win over Clippers | iNFOnews.ca
Oklahoma City Thunder guards Cason Wallace (22) and Aaron Wiggins (21) defend against Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Associated Press

Cliff Brunt

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles