Shai and Holmgren Combine for 61 Points Against the Hawks: “We Need to Get Better”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 30, Chet Holmgren adds 31 as the Thunder cruise past Atlanta – now 3-0 to start the regular season
Three games, three wins. The defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, look like they’ve picked up right where they left off: in full control. Last night, they handled the Atlanta Hawks with ease, 117-100, led by a duo that continues to shine brighter than ever – Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Holmgren showcased his entire skill set, finishing with 31 points, 12 rebounds, and an incredible 6-for-8 from three-point range. For a 7’1” player (2.16 meters), that combination of length, touch, and versatility borders on basketball science fiction.
Next to him, the ever-efficient Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dictated the pace with 30 points and near-perfection inside the arc (10-for-11). The reigning MVP played with his usual poise – controlling every rhythm, every space, every read – like a veteran in total command.
We’re trying to find our direction. We can’t let opportunities slip away – we can’t miss chances to win. It’s the same process I’m going through individually: learning how to improve, but as the games go on, I start to see all the different shades and flows a game can take.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
After two double-overtime thrillers to open the season, OKC didn’t need any late drama this time. Atlanta, missing three starters, hung around as long as it could, but in the second half the difference in energy and talent became obvious.
With this win, the Thunder move to 3-0, continuing to look like the most confident and composed team in the entire NBA – young, hungry, already champions, and playing with the ease of a group that knows exactly how good it is.