Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 30 points and Thunder remain undefeated with win over Pelicans

By Canadian Press on November 2, 2025.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and seven assists in three quarters, and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 137-106 on Sunday to extend their season-opening winning streak to seven games.

Gilgeous-Alexander made 8 of 14 field goals and all 13 of his free throws in 30 minutes to keep the Pelicans winless.

Isaiah Hartenstein had 14 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists for the Thunder, who shot 56% from the field and had eight players score in double figures. Oklahoma City’s largest lead was 36 points in the fourth quarter.

The Thunder entered the game ranked last in the NBA in 3-point percentage at just under 30%, but made 20 of 48 (41.7%) against the Pelicans.

Oklahoma City dominated despite three starters from last season’s championship team missing the game. Thunder guard Lu Dort was out with an illness, forward Chet Holmgren missed his third straight game with a lower back sprain and guard/forward Jalen Williams hasn’t played this season as recovers from offseason surgery on his right wrist.

None of that stopped the Thunder from winning their 11th straight matchup with the Pelicans. The Thunder equaled their 7-0 start from last season, when they won the NBA title. Oklahoma City is the third team in league history to start 7-0 in back-to-back seasons, joining the Boston Celtics (1963-65) and Houston Rockets (1993-95).

Zion Williamson had 20 points and nine rebounds and Trey Murphy III added 19 points for New Orleans, which fell to 0-6.

Former Oklahoma star Jeremiah Fears, a rookie, scored 16 points for the Pelicans after getting a warm reception when he was introduced during starting lineups.

The Thunder made 13 of 24 3-pointers in the first half to take a 75-52 lead. Jaylin Williams tied a career high with four 3-pointers in the first half.

RAPTORS 117, GRIZZLIES 104

TORONTO (AP) — RJ Barrett scored 27 points, Brandon Ingram added 26 and Toronto won consecutive games for the first time this season by beating the short-handed Memphis.

Memphis was without two-time All-Star guard Ja Morant, who was suspended one game Saturday for what the Grizzlies described as conduct detrimental to the team.

Scottie Barnes had 19 points and 12 rebounds, and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles scored 15 as the Raptors won their second straight after losing the previous four. Toronto beat Cleveland 112-101 on Friday.

Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 20 points, and Santi Aldama scored 15 but the Grizzlies lost back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. each scored 14 points for the Grizzlies, while Cedric Coward and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope both had 12.

76ERS 129, NETS 105

NEW YORK (AP) — Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 29 points, Tyrese Maxey had 26, and Philadelphia defeated Brooklyn.

Oubre made 9 of 11 field goals and had 22 points in the first quarter, but limped off the court after injuring his ankle at the buzzer in the third. The forward was cleared to return to the bench with 10 minutes remaining in regulation but did not reenter the game.

Quentin Grimes added 22 off the bench and VJ Edgecombe had 16 points for the 76ers, who have won five of their first six games to start the season.

Philadelphia played without Joel Embiid (left knee), who was held out due to injury management two nights after scoring 20 points in 25 minutes in a loss at Boston.

The 76ers fared well without their All-Star center, shooting 52% from the field and leading by as many 28 points.

Philadelphia started the third quarter with a 3-pointer from Maxey to go up 76-55 before the Nets went on an 18-7 run to cut the deficit to 83-73 with 3:07 left.

Grimes scored the next three baskets for the 76ers to increase the lead 90-78 at the end of the quarter. Philadelphia then started the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run, capped by a floater from Maxey with 9:39 left in regulation and put the game out of reach.

HORNETS 126, JAZZ 103

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Miles Bridges scored 29 points, Kon Knueppel added a career-high 24 and Charlotte routed Utah to snap a three-game losing streak.

High-energy backup center Moussa Diabate provided a huge spark for the Hornets with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Sion James, Knueppel’s college teammate at Duke, also had a career-high 15 points.

Collin Sexton added 10 points and 12 assists for the Hornets, who played without Brandon Miller (shoulder subluxation) and LaMelo Ball (ankle impingement).

Lauri Markkanen had 29 points and Keyonte George added 25 for the Jazz, who lost their third straight.

After opening the season shooting a blistering 53% (16 of 30) from beyond the 3-point arc, Knueppel cooled off significantly the previous two games making just 2 of 12 from deep.

But the No. 4 overall pick was again on his game, making 4 of 9 3s as the Hornets made 18 3-pointers. Knueppel received a standing ovation from the crowd at the Spectrum Center when he left the game with 1:38 remaining and the Hornets up by 25.

CAVALIERS 117, HAWKS 109

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell made eight 3-pointers and scored a season-high 37 points in his return to Cleveland’s lineup, leading the Cavaliers to a 117-109 win on Sunday night over the Atlanta Hawks, who are navigating the early season without injured star guard Trae Young.

Mitchell was back after missing Friday’s home loss to Toronto with hamstring tightness.

The six-time All-Star finished 8 of 15 from long range. He scored 24 points in the second half. It was Mitchell’s 200th game with the Cavs, who are 139-61 when he’s on the floor.

Jalen Tyson dropped a career-best five 3s and scored 18 points for Cleveland. De’Andre Hunter also had 18, and Evan Mobley finished with 14.

Jalen Johnson had 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Hawks. Kristaps Porzingis added 15 points and 12 boards.

The Associated Press