Thunder 114, Wizards 75: Oklahoma City's first half buries a cold-shooting Washington
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 in three quarters as the Thunder held the Wizards to the lowest point total in the NBA this season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Washington Wizards 114-75 on Saturday, 7 November, in Oklahoma City, a 39-point margin built almost entirely before halftime, according to the Associated Press recap.
How it unfolded
Washington missed its first seven field goal attempts, per the AP, and the Thunder led 57-36 at the break after shooting 50 percent. The Wizards shot 15-for-52 (28.8 percent) in the first half. A Shai Gilgeous-Alexander three-pointer made it 76-54 with 4:38 left in the third quarter, and Oklahoma City led 90-59 after three. A Micah Peavy basket made it 109-69 in the fourth.
Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points in three quarters and sat out the fourth. Jared McCain added 19, and rookie Aday Mara had 18 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. For Washington, rookie AJ Dybantsa scored 19 and Alex Sarr had 15 points and 14 rebounds. Anthony Davis did not play. Trae Young, in the AP's account, finished with four points on 1-for-6 shooting.
The numbers behind it
Washington made 29 of 98 shots (29.6 percent) and 7 of 43 three-pointers. The AP notes the Thunder held the Wizards to the lowest total in the NBA this season. Both teams had played NBA Cup games the previous night, according to the AP.
What it means
Oklahoma City improved to 8-2. The AP notes the Thunder have won five of seven games since losing Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren to long-term injuries, which makes a comfortable win with the lead scorer resting the entire fourth quarter a useful data point for a rotation reshaped by absences.
Washington fell to 4-6 and has now lost three straight. The Wizards play at Detroit on Monday night; the Thunder are at Portland on Tuesday.
The result will not settle much on its own, but it shows the Thunder's depth holding up against a team that could not find the basket.