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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/File

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/1742790468275AFP__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/File"/><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/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>LOS ANGELES -- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points to power NBA Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City to a tense 103-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday as Denver ended Houston&#x27;s nine-game winning streak.</p><p>Gilgeous-Alexander endured a tough shooting night but connected on all 11 of his free throws, including two in the final second that sealed the victory.</p><p>After letting an early 12-point lead get away, the Clippers rallied from a nine-point third-quarter deficit, taking a three-point lead on back-to-back baskets by Kawhi Leonard with 4:47 remaining.</p><p>But Alex Caruso drilled a three-pointer with 1:54 left to put Oklahoma City up 100-99 and the Thunder, already assured of the top seed in the West, escaped with the win.</p><p>Leonard finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers and James Harden added 17 points in the defeat that set back the Clippers&#x27; bid to pull themselves out of the play-in tournament.</p><p>In other Western Conference action, the Nuggets moved within one game of the Rockets for third place with a 116-111 victory in Houston.</p><p>The Nuggets, with NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic sidelined for a fourth straight game with an ankle injury, out-scored the Rockets 39-22 in the third quarter and led by 19 with eight seconds left in the period.</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/sZHFfr-yUhs?&amp;pp=0gcJCU8JAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>The Rockets roared back, slicing the deficit to three points on Alperen Sengun&#x27;s reverse layup with 21.9 seconds left.</p><p>But Houston couldn&#x27;t get over the hump, the Nuggets sealing it at the free-throw line.</p><p>Jamal Murray scored 39 points to lead six Nuggets players in double figures. Michael Porter Jr. added 17 and DeAndre Jordan had 11 points and 15 rebounds.</p><p>Jalen Green scored 30 points for the Rockets and Sengun had a triple-double of 17 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists.</p><p>&quot;It can&#x27;t always be pretty,&quot; Murray said. &quot;We really locked in when we needed to.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>- Cavs, Heat snap skids -</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/XlytkDdALVs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Eastern Conference leaders Cleveland snapped their four-game losing streak with a balanced scoring performance in a 120-91 victory at Utah.</p><p>Jarrett Allen scored 18 points and Donovan Mitchell added 16 to lead six Cavaliers in double figures while Evan Mobley added 11 points and 11 rebounds for Cleveland.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s a long season. We&#x27;re going to go through some ups and downs, we&#x27;re not going to play our best,&quot; Mitchell said.</p><p>&quot;If this streak had happened in November I don&#x27;t think everybody would be tripping as much,&quot; Mitchell added. &quot;This is all part of the season. It&#x27;s all part of getting better.&quot;</p><p>The Cavs improved to 57-14 -- the second-best record in the league behind Oklahoma City -- and maintained a five-game lead atop the East over defending champions Boston, who beat the Trail Blazers 129-116 in Portland.</p><p>Jayson Tatum scored 30 points with nine rebounds and nine assists as the Celtics cruised to their fifth straight win despite the absence of Jaylen Brown, who missed a second straight game with a right knee injury.</p><p>Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday also sat out, but six Celtics players scored in double figures.</p><p>Boston made 23 three-pointers and never trailed in the second half, pulling away after the Blazers cut an 18-point deficit to eight late in the third quarter.</p><p>The Miami Heat snapped their 10-game losing streak, beating the Charlotte Hornets 122-105 behind 42 points from Andrew Wiggins -- who arrived last month in the trade that sent Jimmy Butler to Golden State.</p><p>&quot;We played connected, we played together,&quot; Wiggins said after the Heat won for the first time in almost three weeks.</p><p>Miami remained in 10th place in the East in the mix for the play-in tournament.</p><p>In Detroit, US teen rookie forward Ronald Holland scored 26 points off the bench to lead the Pistons over New Orleans 136-130.</p><p>Jalen Duren added 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Pistons, who withstood a 40-point performance from New Orleans&#x27; CJ McCollum.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander endured a tough shooting night but connected on all 11 of his free throws, including two in the final second that sealed the victory for OKC #NBA</p>

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander endured a tough shooting night but connected on all 11 of his free throws, including two in the final second that sealed the victory for OKC #NBA

NBA: Thunder hold off Clippers, Nuggets shoot down Rockets

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NBA: Thunder hold off Clippers, Nuggets shoot down Rockets

Agence France-Presse

Published March 24, 2025 12:28 PM PHT

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