Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 31 points and eight assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder finished off a four-game first-round playoff sweep with a 131-122 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Monday night.
Chet Holmgren added 24 points and 12 rebounds and Ajay Mitchell had 22 points and six assists as the top-seeded Thunder swept their opening Western Conference series for the third straight season.
"You want to get off on the right foot," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Just as a group, it's good confidence-wise to open the playoffs that way. The more you can sweep, the more days off you have to rest."
Isaiah Hartenstein produced 18 points and 12 rebounds and Alex Caruso added 14 points off the bench for Oklahoma City. Mitchell and Caruso each made four 3-pointers for the Thunder, who will face either the Los Angeles Lakers or Houston Rockets in the second round.
Devin Booker scored 24 points and Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green added 23 apiece for the Suns, who were swept in the first round for the second straight playoff appearance, the other occurring in 2024. Phoenix has lost 10 consecutive playoff games dating back to 2023.
"No better test than the defending champs," Booker said. "You realize how every possession matters, every moment matters. It's something to build on going into next year."
Added Suns coach Jordan Ott: "I do think there's a sense of pride with this group. What hurts today is it ends, that team ends. ... Give (the Thunder) credit, good team. I thought it was a hell of a battle."
Collin Gillespie made six 3-pointers while scoring 20 points for the Suns.
The Thunder again played without Jalen Williams (hamstring), who was hurt in Game 2.
Oklahoma City shot 53.7% from the field, including 17 of 34 from 3-point range.
The Suns made 53.3% of their attempts and were 14 of 39 (35.9%) from behind the arc. Grayson Allen has 12 points for Phoenix.
Mitchell and Gilgeous-Alexander each buried treys in the final 35 seconds of the first half, and the Thunder held a 75-67 lead at the break.
"We just played the right way," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Nothing out of the usual. Guys were out there making aggressive plays and playing for each other. We have a formula we try to play with and impose every night. The more we do so, the better off we'll be no matter who we're playing."
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 17 in the half for Oklahoma City, which made 61.4% of its shots in the opening two quarters. Gillespie made five 3-pointers and all six of his field-goal attempts while scoring 17 in the half. The Suns shot 59.5% over the first 24 minutes.
Oklahoma City's biggest lead in the opening half was 11. The Thunder matched that in the third quarter on Gilgeous-Alexander's three-point play with 7:26 remaining in the period.
Just over two minutes later, Holmgren drilled a 3-pointer to make it 95-80.
The Suns soon answered with eight straight points -- five from Booker, three from Brooks -- to move within 99-92 with 2:55 to go in the period.
The Thunder led 106-98 entering the fourth quarter, and Hartenstein converted a three-point play to start the final frame. Gilgeous-Alexander's layup made it 122-106 with 5:23 left as Oklahoma City finished off the sweep.
-Reuters
Chet Holmgren added 24 points and 12 rebounds and Ajay Mitchell had 22 points and six assists as the top-seeded Thunder swept their opening Western Conference series for the third straight season.
"You want to get off on the right foot," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Just as a group, it's good confidence-wise to open the playoffs that way. The more you can sweep, the more days off you have to rest."
Isaiah Hartenstein produced 18 points and 12 rebounds and Alex Caruso added 14 points off the bench for Oklahoma City. Mitchell and Caruso each made four 3-pointers for the Thunder, who will face either the Los Angeles Lakers or Houston Rockets in the second round.
Devin Booker scored 24 points and Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green added 23 apiece for the Suns, who were swept in the first round for the second straight playoff appearance, the other occurring in 2024. Phoenix has lost 10 consecutive playoff games dating back to 2023.
"No better test than the defending champs," Booker said. "You realize how every possession matters, every moment matters. It's something to build on going into next year."
Added Suns coach Jordan Ott: "I do think there's a sense of pride with this group. What hurts today is it ends, that team ends. ... Give (the Thunder) credit, good team. I thought it was a hell of a battle."
Collin Gillespie made six 3-pointers while scoring 20 points for the Suns.
The Thunder again played without Jalen Williams (hamstring), who was hurt in Game 2.
Oklahoma City shot 53.7% from the field, including 17 of 34 from 3-point range.
The Suns made 53.3% of their attempts and were 14 of 39 (35.9%) from behind the arc. Grayson Allen has 12 points for Phoenix.
Mitchell and Gilgeous-Alexander each buried treys in the final 35 seconds of the first half, and the Thunder held a 75-67 lead at the break.
"We just played the right way," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Nothing out of the usual. Guys were out there making aggressive plays and playing for each other. We have a formula we try to play with and impose every night. The more we do so, the better off we'll be no matter who we're playing."
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 17 in the half for Oklahoma City, which made 61.4% of its shots in the opening two quarters. Gillespie made five 3-pointers and all six of his field-goal attempts while scoring 17 in the half. The Suns shot 59.5% over the first 24 minutes.
Oklahoma City's biggest lead in the opening half was 11. The Thunder matched that in the third quarter on Gilgeous-Alexander's three-point play with 7:26 remaining in the period.
Just over two minutes later, Holmgren drilled a 3-pointer to make it 95-80.
The Suns soon answered with eight straight points -- five from Booker, three from Brooks -- to move within 99-92 with 2:55 to go in the period.
The Thunder led 106-98 entering the fourth quarter, and Hartenstein converted a three-point play to start the final frame. Gilgeous-Alexander's layup made it 122-106 with 5:23 left as Oklahoma City finished off the sweep.
-Reuters
