Gilgeous-Alexander dumps 47 points as Thunder outlast Pistons in overtime
LOS ANGELES, United States — Reigning Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander erupted for 47 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder escaped a 114-110 overtime victory against Eastern Conference leader Detroit on Tuesday (Manila time).
The Western Conference-leading Thunder thus improved to 60-16
The Pistons went into the clash without their top-five leading scorers — including Cade Cunningham, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren — all of whom are on the injured list.
However, a determined Detroit lineup led by seven points with three minutes remaining before Gilgeous-Alexander spearheaded a late rally that included 13 fourth-quarter points and eight more in overtime to shepherd the Thunder to the win.
"We have a never-die mentality," Gilgeous-Alexander said afterwards.
"Seven points down with three minutes left is nothing to us. We knew that if we could get stops, we would give ourselves a chance. We just had to go out there and make players and we did a good job of that.”
The Los Angeles Lakers remain in third place in the Western Conference on 49-26 after easing past the Washington Wizards, 120-101.
With Lakers star Luka Doncic missing through suspension, it was left to LeBron James to lead the scoring with 21 points.
The Atlanta Hawks boosted their playoff hopes with a 112-102 defeat of the Boston Celtics in their Eastern Conference clash.
Jaylen Brown led the scoring with 29 points for a depleted Celtics line-up missing Jayson Tatum, but Atlanta's balanced offense, with 20 points apiece from Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu, carried the Hawks to victory.
The Minnesota Timberwolves saw seven players finish in double figures in a 124-94 rout of the Dallas Mavericks.
The Phoenix Suns were similarly emphatic winners in a 131-105 romp over the Memphis Grizzlies.
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