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The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to overwhelm opponents on a nightly basis, strengthening their hold on the Western Conference’s top spot. Entering Friday at 16-1, Oklahoma City added another statement win in NBA Cup play, rolling past the Utah Jazz 144-112 to improve to 2-0 in Group Play.
As usual, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge. The reigning MVP scored 31 points on an efficient 9-for-14 shooting performance while adding eight assists and two rebounds. Beyond Gilgeous-Alexander, however, Oklahoma City’s starters took a back seat on the scoreboard. No other member of the starting lineup scored more than 12 points, yet the Thunder’s offense never slowed.
That was due to a dominant performance from the bench, which supplied a staggering 71 points—nearly half of the team's total. Isaiah Joe contributed 16 points, while Jaylin Williams, Ajay Mitchell and Alex Caruso each reached double figures. The production was not an anomaly; it served as the latest example of Oklahoma City’s depth, one of the defining strengths of its early-season surge.
The Thunder currently rank seventh in the league in bench scoring at 38.5 points per game. Among teams sitting in playoff position, they lead the field, with only Golden State close behind at eighth overall. With multiple reserves capable of contributing double-digit scoring on any given night, Oklahoma City continues to outpace opponents with its balance and selfless style of play.
The Thunder now turn their attention to Sunday’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers—the lone team to hand them a loss this season.
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