Thunder beat Jazz 133-106 and advance to the NBA Cup quarterfinals

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Jalen Williams scored 28 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 26 points, seven assists and six rebounds, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Utah Jazz 133-106 on Tuesday night en route to the NBA Cup quarterfinals.

Isaiah Joe had 19 points and fellow reserve Aaron Wiggins finished with 16 as the Thunder closed out West Group B play at 3-1. They won the group when Phoenix beat San Antonio 104-93 later Tuesday.

Alexander, selected as Western Conference player of the month earlier Tuesday, scored 15 points after halftime. Oklahoma City twice led by as many as 30 points in the second half.

Isaiah Hartenstein had four points and five rebounds, his first game without at least 10 points and 10 boards in six games since returning from a fractured hand.

Collin Sexton scored 17 points while Walker Kessler and John Collins added 15 apiece for the Jazz, who fell to 4-17.

Utah led 19-10 on a three-point play by Sexton, but the Thunder scored 22 of the next 28 to make it 32-25 after one quarter. Joe had eight points off the bench to spark the run, including two 3-pointers and a soaring left-handed dunk.

Utah committed 29 turnovers, including 19 in the first half, compared to eight for Oklahoma City.

The Jazz are at Portland on Friday, while the Thunder visit Toronto on Thursday.

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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, left, dribbles as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams, right, defends during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Utah Jazz forward John Collins, right, drives in front of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) shoots against Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) screams as he dunks against Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang (33) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams (34) prepares to shoot against Utah Jazz forward John Collins, left, during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored 29 points and the Phoenix Suns weathered the loss of Kevin Durant to an ankle injury to beat the San Antonio Spurs 104-93 on Tuesday night.

Durant left the game with 3:51 to play in the second quarter and did not return. He headed to the locker room under his own power, and the Suns later said he hurt an ankle without providing any specifics. He finished with 13 points.

Though Oklahoma City won West Group B in the NBA Cup, the Suns were hoping to earn a wild-card berth into the quarterfinals. But they were eliminated when Dallas beat Memphis.

Booker surpassed 15,000 career points with his first basket of the night. He trails only Walter Davis (15,666) on Phoenix’s scoring list.

San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama scored 15 points, all in the second half, and had 13 rebounds. He missed all seven shots in the first half, six from 3-point range.

Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 25 points off the bench. Stephon Castle scored 16.

Tyus Jones scored 16 points, and Royce O’Neale and Bradley Beal had 10 each for Phoenix.

Spurs: Jeremy Sochan returned after missing 13 games with a left thumb injury that required surgery. He came off the bench and contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Suns: Oso Ighodaro started at center for Phoenix in place of Jusuf Nurkic, who's sidelined for at least a week with a right thigh contusion.

The Suns began the game with an 11-0 spurt before Castle scored for San Antonio.

The Spurs were 8 of 44 (18%) from 3-point range.

The Spurs host Chicago on Friday. The Suns visit New Orleans on Friday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives on San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie shoots over Phoenix Suns center Oso Ighodaro (4) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Phoenix. Phoenix won 104-93. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant reacts after falling to the floor against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts with forward Kevin Durant after scoring his 1500th career point against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)