TORONTO — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 23 points in his only regular-season trip to his home state, Chet Holmgren had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and the Oklahoma City Thunder pulled away late to beat the Toronto Raptors shorthanded 123-103 Friday night
Jalen Williams scored 20 points and Kenrich Williams and Cason Wallace each had 12 as the Western Conference-leading Thunder won their fourth straight and extended their season-worst losing streak to nine. Toronto.
Canadian Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with eight assists and seven rebounds. Josh Giddey and Lu Dort scored 10 points each as Oklahoma City improved to 21-13 on the road.
The Raptors were led by rookie Gradey Dick with 21 points, one shy of his career high, and Kelly Olynyk with 16.
Before the game, Toronto guard Gary Trent Jr. was ruled out with lower back soreness. That left the Raptors without seven players, including all five regular starters.
Toronto’s absentee list also included guard Immanuel Quickley (personal reasons), All-Star forward Scottie Barnes (left hand), center Jakob Poeltl (left pinky), forward RJ Barrett (personal), l forward Chris Boucher (right knee) and guard DJ. Cardboard (right ankle).
Center Jontay Porter returned for the Raptors after suffering Wednesday’s loss to Sacramento due to illness.
The Raptors had a season-worst 27 turnovers. Oklahoma City scored 37 points on those errors, the most Toronto has allowed in any game this season.
Dick scored 13 points in the first, his highest total of any quarter this season, as Toronto led 35-28 after one quarter.
Oklahoma City opened the second with a 15-2 run, taking a 45-37 lead on Giddey’s 3-pointer with 9:08 left in the half. The Thunder led 63-56 at halftime and took an 89-78 lead into the fourth.
FOLLOWING
Thunder: Visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night.
Raptors: Visit the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.
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