A run-filled match and a close finish between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Golden State Warriors resulted in the Thunder winning 105-101 and narrowly leaving the Chase Center with a win.

Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took over the game early, scoring 12 points in the first half, all inside the perimeter, while going 6-for-8 in the quarter. He added seven more for a total of 19 points in the first half, doing so in a variety of ways, making just one three-pointer on four attempts. He also only attempted three free throws, making two.

There was one point in the second quarter with 5:24 left in the half when it looked like OKC was going to escape with the game. Gilgeous-Alexander had just put two more points on the scoreboard and Golden State forward Draymond Green had just been assessed a technical foul. The tide had turned in Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder’s favor and with less than 30 minutes left in the game, it looked like another win was on the cards.

Simply put, that wasn’t the case. The Warriors, led by guard Buddy Hield and forward Jonathan Kuminga, stormed back. Golden State brought the game to 12 points and trailed 62-50 before halftime.

Throughout the night, the Warriors scored through Kuminga, Hield and forward Aaron Wiggins. Kuminga finished with 19 points on 8-for-21 shooting, Hield had 17 points on 5-for-8 shooting and Wiggins also had 16 points. Without future Hall of Fame guard Steph Curry, head coach Steve Kerr was forced to score in other areas. He did it with this trio.

Kuminga and Wiggins came out convincing at the start of the third quarter and were only seven points behind after five minutes. Sophomore guard Brandin Podziemski also found his footing in the third quarter, scoring eight points in the period, two of which came from shots at the rim. Late in the quarter, Oklahoma City failed to stop Kuminga and get the ball into the hands of Gilgeous-Alexander, leaving the Thunder ahead by just one point, leading 84-83.

Continuous struggles from the perimeter plagued OKC’s entire matchup. They shot 11 for 37 on the night, and their top three outside shooters, Aaron Wiggins, Lu Dort and Ajay Mitchell, managed just one three-pointer on the trio’s eight attempts.

Gilgeous-Alexander initially struggled to repeat his first-half success in the second half, but recovered late in the game. He scored 16 points in the final two quarters for a total of 35. His scoring presence would prove crucial as the two best teams in the Western Conference met.

It remained that way in the final moments of the fourth quarter, but Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder did just enough to eke out a win over Golden State.

OKC’s next game is Friday, November 29th at 9:00 pm CT against the Los Angeles Lakers.

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