Watch Shai Gilgeous-Alexander go off for 42, Thunder blow out Rockets

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder took what coach Mark Daigneault referred to as a “bloodthirsty mentality” into Saturday’s rematch with the Houston Rockets.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 factors to assist the Thunder blow out Houston 153-121.

They had been disillusioned in dropping at Houston on Wednesday and responded by setting an Oklahoma Metropolis document for factors in a game, surpassing the 150 they scored in a win over the Boston Celtics final month.

“Simply (wished to) be the aggressors,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “Play our model, our model of basketball. I believe we received away from that slightly bit in Houston, and we simply wished to get again on monitor.”

Daigneault was most happy that the strategy was player-led.

“It wasn’t like I used to be giving motivational speeches,” he stated. “However, you understand, as a workforce, they sort of banded collectively and determined that they had been going to return out and play the best way they did. They usually had been spectacular due to it.”

Gilgeous-Alexander set the tone by scoring 20 factors within the first quarter.

“I assumed tonight was, like, a fairly large management assertion game for him,” Daigneault stated. “I believe if you want a response like we wanted tonight popping out of the opposite evening, you depend on your guys which are most skilled, who play probably the most minutes.”

Gilgeous-Alexander shot 7 for 23 from the sector within the first matchup, however bounced again to make 14 of 23 discipline objectives on Saturday, falling two factors wanting his profession excessive. The primary-time All-Star additionally made 14 of 15 free throws and had six assists for the Thunder, regardless of not taking part in within the fourth quarter as a result of the Thunder led by 42 factors on the finish of the third.

Mike Muscala scored a season-high 19 factors and Josh Giddey added 17 factors, 10 assists and eight rebounds for Oklahoma Metropolis.

“We’re a workforce that’s rising in confidence, and I believe our habits are rising,” Daigneault stated. “And I believe a whole lot of issues are transferring in the fitting course.”

Josh Christopher and TyTy Washington every scored 20 factors and Tari Eason added 18 for the Rockets.

The Rockets had been taking part in with out Eric Gordon (sore proper knee) and Jae’Sean Tate (proper ankle damage).

Rockets coach Stephen Silas didn’t need to hear it.

“You’ve received to step up in these conditions, and we didn’t do it,” he stated. “We succumbed to back-to-back, three-in-four, no Eric, no Tate, all that stuff. … We succumbed to it. That’s not – we’re speaking about successful habits. That’s not one.”

Oklahoma Metropolis led 79-53 on the break after taking pictures 55% from the sector. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 factors within the first two quarters, a profession excessive for him in a primary half.

The Thunder continued to roll within the third quarter, making 16 of 26 discipline objectives within the interval to go up 123-81 heading into the fourth.

Oklahoma Metropolis set the Thunder single-game scoring document on a 3-pointer by Darius Bazley that banked in throughout the remaining minute.

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Watch Shai Gilgeous-Alexander go off for 42, Thunder blow out Rockets initially appeared on NBCSports.com