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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on December 26, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images, AFP

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 26: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on December 26, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE   A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP (Photo by A.J. Mast / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP)

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Oklahoma City Thunder v Indiana Pacers

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1735275270010AFP__20241227__2190871292__v1__Preview__OklahomaCityThunderVIndianaPacers.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on December 26, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images, AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on December 26, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. <em>A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>WASHINGTON -- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander matched his career high with 45 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder over the Indiana Pacers 120-114 on Thursday, stretching their NBA win streak to nine games.</p><p>The 26-year-old Canadian guard made 15-of-22 shots from the floor, 4-of-5 from 3-point range, and all 11 of his free throws while adding seven rebounds, eight assists, two blocked shots and a steal in a maestro performance.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s the extra plays that put you over the edge,&quot; Gilgeous-Alexander said. &quot;We have a group of guys that are hungry to do whatever it takes to win and that&#x27;s why we win.&quot;</p><p>Jalen Williams added 20 points and Isaiah Hartenstein contributed 11 points and 13 rebounds for the Thunder in his 11th double-double of the season.</p><p>The Western Conference-leading Thunder are 24-5 and on a roll despite a loss in the NBA Cup final to Milwaukee that didn&#x27;t count against them in the regular season.</p><p>&quot;The main thing is it&#x27;s genuine,&quot; said Hartenstein. &quot;We&#x27;re not coming in trying to fake something. We really all support each other.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re not trying to put something on for the TV or for the world to see. We&#x27;re really supporting each other and I think that&#x27;s what makes it special.&quot;</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tPJFoqdD6VQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>Andrew Nembhard led the host Pacers (15-16) with 23 points. Indiana took a 61-53 half-time lead before the Thunder struck in the second half and closed the game on a 17-7 run for the victory.</div><p>&quot;We didn&#x27;t get off to the start we wanted,&quot; Gilgeous-Alexander said. &quot;But that&#x27;s what good teams do, play through situations and because we did that we got the W.&quot;</p><p>Gilgeous-Alexander, who set his career high of 45 points last month in a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, sank a 3-pointer to give Oklahoma City a 114-109 edge with 59 seconds remaining and sank six free throws in the final 36 seconds to seal the triumph.</p><p>His crucial 3-pointer came after extra work on his outside shooting and confidence to keep firing after a miss.</p><p>&quot;It feels good, but that&#x27;s what the work is about,&quot; Gilgeous-Alexander said. &quot;It went in because I took the shot.</p><p>&quot;In the past, I probably would have gotten discouraged missing one and not shooting it, but I would like to think I&#x27;ve grown a bit, enough to trust in my work, take a shot, stay true to it and it paid off tonight because of that.</p><p>&quot;But it&#x27;s about continuing to push forward. I&#x27;m going to miss some and I&#x27;m going to make some. You&#x27;ve always got to stay shooting.&quot;</p><div><strong>- Herro is the hero -</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/enqTFZZTuMM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>In a Florida showdown, Tyler Herro sank a jump shot with 0.1 of a second remaining to give the Miami Heat an 89-88 NBA thriller triumph over the host Orlando Magic.</div><p>Herro scored 20 points to lead the Heat, whose president Pat Riley said hours earlier that the team has no plans to trade All-Star forward Jimmy Butler.</p><p>At Washington, the NBA-worst Wizards improved to 5-23 by beating Charlotte 113-110 as Jordan Poole scored 25 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer for Washington with 8.1 seconds remaining.</p><p>Host Atlanta got 30 points and 15 rebounds from Jalen Johnson and 27 points and 13 assists from Trae Young in a 141-133 triumph over Chicago. Zach LaVine had 37 points in a losing cause.</p><p>The Houston Rockets, led by 30 points from Jalen Green and 27 off the bench by Cam Whitmore, beat host New Orleans 128-111.</p><p>With stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard out due to illness, the Milwaukee Bucks lost at home to Brooklyn 111-105 as Cameron Johnson led the Nets with 29 points.</p><p>Zach Edey had 21 points and 16 rebounds and Jaren Jackson added 21 points and 11 rebounds to spark the Memphis Grizzlies over visiting Toronto 155-126.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander matched his career high with 45 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder over the Indiana Pacers 120-114 on Thursday, stretching their NBA win streak to nine games.</p>

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander matched his career high with 45 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder over the Indiana Pacers 120-114 on Thursday, stretching their NBA win streak to nine games.

NBA: Thunder win streak at 9 as Shai ties career high with 45

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NBA: Thunder win streak at 9 as Shai ties career high with 45

Agence France-Presse

Published Dec 27, 2024 12:55 PM PHT

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