After registering back-to-back come-from-behind victories from deficits in excess of 20 points, the Oklahoma City Thunder were in no mood to trail on Friday against the Phoenix Suns.
They took a 17-15 lead with 5:17 left in the first quarter and never looked back. They led the rest of the game to eventually win by 18 points, their second-highest margin of victory this season.
The Thunder had as many as six players finish in double figures, led by Canadian sophomore Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The 21-year-old went off for a career-high 32 points (13-18 FGs) while also recording four rebounds, three assists and zero turnovers.
The career game put his name alongside some former Thunder greats.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the youngest player not named Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook to score 32 points in a game in OKC Thunder history. pic.twitter.com/yjodawvsOT
— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 21, 2019
The Thunder also got a big-time performance off the bench from Dennis Schroder - 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
Dennis Schroder posted his fourth game off the bench this season with at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. In the past 50 seasons, the only other players with four such games by Dec. 31st are Manu Ginobili (5 in 2007) and Jordan Clarkson (4 in 2017). @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/bhBoJeI1pA
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) December 21, 2019
With this win and their two comeback victories, the Thunder have now won eight of their last 11 games and have a .500 record (14-14) for the first time this season.
On the other hand, it's been a rough stretch since mid-November for the Suns. Since starting off winning seven of their first 11 games, the Suns have lost 13 of their last 17 games.
In this one, Ricky Rubio was the team's best performer with 24 points, one off his season-high, along with eight assists.
