Camille Naredo

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Paycom Center on February 27, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Joshua Gateley, Getty Images/AFP 

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - FEBRUARY 27: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Paycom Center on February 27, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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.   Joshua Gateley/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Joshua Gateley / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Article (news)

Denver Nuggets v Oklahoma City Thunder

Agence France-Presse

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774679670710AFP__20260228__2263405055__v2__MidRes__DenverNuggetsVOklahomaCityThunder.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Paycom Center on February 27, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Joshua Gateley, Getty Images/AFP " width="960"/>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Paycom Center on February 27, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Joshua Gateley, Getty Images/AFP </div>LOS ANGELES -- The Oklahoma City Thunder got back in the win column on Friday, beating the Chicago Bulls 131-113 to maintain their grip on first place in the NBA Western Conference.Two days after their 12-game winning streak was halted by the Boston Celtics, the defending champions Thunder were again on the ropes against the visiting Bulls.Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander connected on just eight of 24 shots for the Thunder, who trailed by eight late in the third quarter but unleashed a furious 22-0 scoring run to turn it into a blowout.Cason Wallace added 21 points for Oklahoma City.Jalen Williams scored 18 and Ajay Mitchell and Isaiah Joe added 15 apiece off the bench for the Thunder, who were without All-Star Chet Holmgren who sat out with a bruised hip.It was a key win for the Thunder, who came into the contest with a two-game lead over the San Antonio Spurs for top spot and home court advantage in the Western Conference playoffs.Collin Sexton scored 22 points and Tre Jones added 21 for the Bulls.In Boston, the Celtics shook off a sluggish start against the high-flying Hawks to triumph 109-102.The Hawks, who had won nine of their last 10 games, led by as many as 16 in the first quarter.But Payton Pritchard&#x27;s 36 points off the bench and 26 points and 12 rebounds from Jayson Tatum led the hosts&#x27; fightback on a night when Jaylen Brown was sidelined by Achilles tendinitis.It was Tatum&#x27;s highest-scoring performance since he made his season debut this month after recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in last year&#x27;s playoffs.He scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to help the Celtics seal the comeback and maintain their slim advantage over the New York Knicks for second place in the Eastern Conference.The Los Angeles Clippers, jostling for position in the play-in tournament, got a scare against the league-worst Indiana Pacers.But Kawhi Leonard drilled a game-winning basket with less than a second remaining in a 114-113 victory.Leonard finished with 28 points and eight rebounds and Darius Garland scored 30 for the Clippers.Denver star Nikola Jokic delivered another monster triple-double, his 31st of the season, in the Nuggets&#x27; 135-129 victory over the Utah Jazz.Jokic tallied 33 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists and point guard Jamal Murray added 31 points and 14 assists to help the Nuggets tighten their hold on fourth place in the West.<div> </div><div>- Doncic shines -</div>The third-placed Los Angeles Lakers, fueled by 41 points from Luka Doncic, beat the lowly Brooklyn Nets 116-99.Doncic could be facing a one-game suspension after being whistled for his 16th technical foul of the season after tangling with Nets forward Ziaire Williams in the third quarter.A player&#x27;s 16th technical triggers an automatic one-game ban, something Doncic had already avoided after his last technical foul -- in a victory over Orlando last weekend -- was rescinded upon league office review.The Golden State Warriors, fueled by 28 points from Kristaps Porzingis, got a morale-boosting 131-126 victory over the Washington Wizards despite the continued absence of superstar Stephen Curry.Curry missed his 24th straight game with a nagging knee injury, and the Warriors said before the contest that he&#x27;ll miss at least one more -- against Denver on Sunday -- before being re-evaluated next week.

The Oklahoma City Thunder got back in the win column on Friday, beating the Chicago Bulls 131-113 to maintain their grip on first place in the NBA Western Conference.

The Oklahoma City Thunder got back in the win column on Friday, beating the Chicago Bulls 131-113 to maintain their grip on first place in the NBA Western Conference.

NBA: Late surge lifts Thunder; Celtics rally to down Hawks

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NBA: Late surge lifts Thunder; Celtics rally to down Hawks

Agence France-Presse

Published March 28, 2026 02:42 PM PHT

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