Gilgeous-Alexander drops 31 as Thunder complete sweep of Suns

Open this photo in gallery:Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots a 3-pointer during Game 4 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, on April 27.Ross D. Franklin/The Associated PressShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountShai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, Chet Holmgren added 24 and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Phoenix Suns 131-122 on Monday night, capping a four-game sweep in the first-round series.The Thunder – who have a 12-0 record in the first round over the last three seasons – will face the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers-Houston Rockets series in the Western Conference semifinals. The Lakers have a 3-1 lead, though the Rockets won Game 4. Phoenix has a 10-game losing streak in the playoffs, dating to 2023.The Thunder closed the series with an overwhelming offensive performance – making 17 of 34 (50 per cent) 3-pointers – and their big men played particularly well. The 7-foot-1 Holmgren shot 9 of 16 from the field and grabbed 12 rebounds, while the 7-foot Isaiah Hartenstein added 18 points and 12 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.Ajay Mitchell added 22 points and made four three-pointers. Alex Caruso finished with 14 points and hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter.Gilgeous-Alexander was reliable as usual. Two days after scoring 42 points in Game 3, he had another efficient performance, shooting 10 of 17 from the field.The Suns showed some fight in the second half, cutting a 15-point deficit to 106-98 entering the fourth. Devin Booker scored 12 points in the third quarter on 5-of-8 shooting.Open this photo in gallery:Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball against Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs on April 27, in Phoenix, Arizona.Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesBut every time the Suns got within a few possessions, the Thunder responded. Cason Wallace hit a corner three with 5:54 left to extend the Oklahoma City lead to 120-106. Gilgeous-Alexander followed with a spectacular layup, somehow getting the shot to fall over three defenders.Booker led the Suns with 24 points while Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green added 23. Collin Gillespie added 20 points while making six three-pointers.The Thunder pushed to a 75-67 lead by halftime after shooting 61.4% from the floor and 60 per cent from 3-point range, hitting 12 of 20 behind the arc. Gilgeous-Alexander had 17 before the break, making a wide-open 3-pointer just before halftime.That offset a hot shooting start for the Suns, who made 11 of 20 three-pointers. Gillespie scored 17 before the break, making all six of his shots, including five 3s.The Thunder were without starter Jalen Williams, who missed his second straight game because of a left hamstring strain. Suns centre Mark Williams (foot) and guard Jordan Goodwin (calf) were also out.

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