Gilgeous-Alexander Scores Career-High 45 As Thunder Beat Clippers In First Game Without Holmgren

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 45 points, and Oklahoma City Thunder beat Los Angeles Clippers 134-128 on Monday night in ir first game this season without Chet Holmgren.

Holmgren will miss at least eight weeks with a pelvic fracture after a hard fall during Sunday's loss to Golden State. 7-foot-1 forward/center h been one of league's most efficient scorers and top shot blockers.

Gilgeous-Alexander picked up slack by making 13 of 21 field goals and 15 of 16 free throws. He also h nine assists. Jalen Williams scored 28 points and Lu Dort ded 19 for Oklahoma City.

With ir tallest starter at 6-foot-6, Thunder ran relentlessly, yet committed just 11 turvers. y were outrebounded 47-29.

rman Powell scored 31 points, but he fouled out with Clippers down four with 1:32 remaining. Ivica Zubac h 22 points and 14 rebounds and Derrick Jones Jr. ded 20 points for Los Angeles. James Harden h 17 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, but he shot 5 of 15 and h five fouls.

Thunder led by 20 midway through third quarter. Powell's feaway corner 3 at end of third trimmed Oklahoma City's le to 99-94, and game was close throughout final period.

Takeaways

Clippers: Los Angeles was careless with ball. Oklahoma City scored 32 points off Clippers' 24 turvers.

Thunder: Even with several players injured, Oklahoma City's depth was too much for Clippers, especially with Los Angeles in foul trouble.

Key moment

Gilgeous-Alexander me two free throws with 22.7 seconds left to put Thunder ahe 132-128 and reach his career-high point total.

Key stat

Oklahoma City me 22 of 23 free throws while Los Angeles me 20 of 29.

Up next

Clippers visit Houston on Wednesday and Thunder host New Orleans on Wednesday.

(With AP Inputs)