Game ID: 22400400
Washington Wizards @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Monday, December 23, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
OKC 29 38 24 32 123WAS 32 31 24 18 105
OKC vs WAS ScoutingOKC vs WAS Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
OKC availability going into 12/10 · 2 days' restOUT Holmgren missed 13 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Caruso back 12/05 after 5, 21 min since (100% of 21)
OKC availability going into 12/14 · 3 days' restOUT Holmgren missed 14 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Caruso back 12/05 after 5, 21 min since (102% of 21)
OKC availability going into 12/19 · 4 days' restOUT Holmgren missed 15 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Caruso back 12/05 after 5, 21 min since (100% of 21)
OKC availability going into 12/20 · back-to-backOUT Holmgren missed 16 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Caruso back 12/05 after 5, 20 min since (98% of 21)
OKC availability going into 12/23 · 2 days' restOUT Holmgren missed 17 since 11/11, out tonight
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 32 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Holmgren missed 18 since 11/11, out tonight
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 32 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's restOUT Holmgren missed 19 since 11/11, out tonight
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 32 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 12/29 · back-to-backOUT Holmgren missed 20 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Caruso missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
OKC availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Holmgren missed 21 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Caruso missed 3 since 12/26, out tonight
NEW Mitchell 14 to 21 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 12/13 · 4 days' restOUT Kuzma missed 5 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Sarr missed 2 since 12/07, returns tonight: 26 min (98% of 27)
OUT George missed 3 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Kispert missed 3 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Brogdon missed 2 since 12/07, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 3 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Champagnie back 12/05 after 9, 33 min since (155% of 22)
NEW Butler 11 to 20 min over the last 4
WAS availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Kuzma missed 6 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT George missed 4 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Kispert missed 4 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Brogdon missed 3 since 12/07, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 4 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Sarr back 12/13 after 2, 26 min since (98% of 27)
BACK Champagnie back 12/05 after 9, 34 min since (158% of 22)
NEW Butler 11 to 19 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 12/19 · 3 days' restOUT Kuzma missed 7 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT George missed 5 since 12/05, returns tonight: 17 min (63% of 26)
OUT Kispert missed 5 since 12/05, returns tonight: 19 min (73% of 26)
OUT Brogdon missed 4 since 12/07, returns tonight: 27 min (115% of 24)
OUT Holmes missed 5 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Sarr back 12/13 after 2, 27 min since (100% of 27)
BACK Champagnie back 12/05 after 9, 35 min since (162% of 22)
NEW Poole 29 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Butler 11 to 19 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Kuzma missed 8 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 6 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Sarr back 12/13 after 2, 29 min since (107% of 27)
BACK George back 12/19 after 5, 17 min since (63% of 26)
BACK Kispert back 12/19 after 5, 19 min since (73% of 26)
BACK Brogdon back 12/19 after 4, 27 min since (115% of 24)
NEW Poole 29 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Champagnie 22 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Butler 11 to 19 min over the last 4
WAS availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Kuzma missed 9 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 7 since 12/05, returns tonight: 3 min (20% of 17)
OUT Butler missed 2 since 12/19, returns tonight: 8 min (73% of 11)
BACK Sarr back 12/13 after 2, 30 min since (110% of 27)
BACK George back 12/19 after 5, 20 min since (74% of 26)
BACK Kispert back 12/19 after 5, 22 min since (86% of 26)
BACK Brogdon back 12/19 after 4, 25 min since (108% of 24)
NEW Champagnie 22 to 31 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Kuzma missed 10 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Sarr back 12/13 after 2, 30 min since (110% of 27)
BACK George back 12/19 after 5, 22 min since (84% of 26)
BACK Kispert back 12/19 after 5, 24 min since (90% of 26)
BACK Brogdon back 12/19 after 4, 26 min since (109% of 24)
BACK Holmes back 12/23 after 7, 3 min since (20% of 17)
BACK Butler back 12/23 after 2, 8 min since (73% of 11)
NEW Poole 29 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Champagnie 22 to 30 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's restOUT Kuzma missed 11 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK George back 12/19 after 5, 23 min since (85% of 26)
BACK Kispert back 12/19 after 5, 25 min since (96% of 26)
BACK Brogdon back 12/19 after 4, 27 min since (114% of 24)
BACK Holmes back 12/23 after 7, 3 min since (20% of 17)
BACK Butler back 12/23 after 2, 8 min since (73% of 11)
NEW Poole 29 to 36 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT Kuzma missed 12 since 11/30, returns tonight: 21 min (75% of 28)
OUT Holmes missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Vukcevic missed 2 since 12/26, returns tonight: 2 min (12% of 15)
OUT Butler missed 2 since 12/26, returns tonight: 5 min (43% of 11)
BACK George back 12/19 after 5, 25 min since (94% of 26)
BACK Kispert back 12/19 after 5, 25 min since (94% of 26)
BACK Brogdon back 12/19 after 4, 27 min since (117% of 24)
NEW Poole 29 to 36 min over the last 4
WAS availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Poole missed 2 since 12/28, returns tonight: 28 min (94% of 29)
OUT Holmes missed 3 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Kuzma back 12/30 after 12, 21 min since (75% of 28)
BACK Vukcevic back 12/30 after 2, 2 min since (12% of 15)
BACK Butler back 12/23 after 2, 7 min since (58% of 11)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 101, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Jal. Williams at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holmgren (17 straight). 2 days' rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Poole at 20 and Coulibaly at 19 a game. Without Kuzma (9 straight), Holmes (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 101 a night to Washington's 119 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 18 times a game to OKC's 14. Call it OKC 118, Washington 104, OKC by 14.
12/10 vs DAL 118-104 — OKC notes
OKC won 118-104. OKC shot 46% (46 of 101) to DAL's 48%, 20 of 50 from three, and got to the line 7 times to DAL's 19. OKC turned it over 13 times to DAL's 18. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 39 (15 of 23, 5 of 9 from three); J. Williams added 18, Dort 11. The hinge was Q3, 33-19: a lead of 3 became 17, and the lead reached 20. Gilgeous-Alexander was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/14 vs HOU 111-96 — OKC notes
OKC won 111-96. OKC shot 45% (36 of 80) to HOU's 36%, 11 of 30 from three, and went to the line 32 times to HOU's 25 — 28 points from the stripe to their 15. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 32 (8 of 21, 2 of 6 from three, 14 of 15 at the line); Hartenstein added 21, J. Williams 20. The hinge was Q4, 36-27: a lead of 6 became 15. OKC trailed 41-42 at the half and won the second half 70-54. Gilgeous-Alexander was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/19 @ ORL 105-99 — OKC notes
OKC won 105-99. OKC shot 48% (40 of 83) to ORL's 45%, 10 of 31 from three, and got to the line 16 times to ORL's 25. OKC turned it over 13 times to ORL's 18. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 35 (15 of 26, 1 of 5 from three); Hartenstein added 12, J. Williams 11. The hinge was Q2, 36-18: a lead of 1 became 19, and the lead reached 23. Wiggins was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
12/20 @ MIA 104-97 — OKC notes
OKC won 104-97. OKC shot 45% (39 of 86) to MIA's 43%, 14 of 34 from three. J. Williams led with 33 (12 of 25, 4 of 7 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Gilgeous-Alexander added 25, Dort 14. The hinge was Q3, 31-23: a lead of 3 became 11. Gilgeous-Alexander was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/23 vs WAS 123-105 — OKC notes
OKC won 123-105. OKC shot 44% (47 of 106) to WAS's 40%, 10 of 38 from three. OKC turned it over 12 times to WAS's 19. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 41 (14 of 25, 3 of 6 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Jal. Williams added 17, Hartenstein 16. The hinge was Q4, 32-18: a lead of 4 became 18, and the lead reached 21. Gilgeous-Alexander was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
12/26 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 104, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Haliburton at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Nesmith (24 straight), Isa. Jackson (24 straight). 2 days' rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 100, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holmgren (18 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it OKC 111, Indiana 110, Indiana keeping it close.
12/28 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 116, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 21 free throws a game; Ball at 26 and Bridges at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Gra. Williams (14 straight), Mann (15 straight), Simpson (5 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 102, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 36 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holmgren (19 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 102 a night to Charlotte's 116 and the turnovers, Charlotte giving it away 15 times a game to OKC's 11. Call it OKC 113, Charlotte 106.
12/29 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 102, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holmgren (20 straight), Caruso (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 134 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 44 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 22 and Bane at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Smart (3 straight), Williams Jr. (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Memphis at 44 percent from three to OKC's 32 and the defense, OKC allowing 102 a night to Memphis's 114. Call it Memphis 115, OKC 114, OKC keeping it close.
12/31 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 103, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Jal. Williams at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holmgren (21 straight), Caruso (3 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Randle at 20 and Edwards at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 37 percent from three to OKC's 32 and the defense, OKC allowing 103 a night to Minnesota's 110. Call it OKC 114, Minnesota 104, OKC by 10.
12/13 @ CLE 105-115 — WAS notes
WAS lost 105-115. WAS shot 48% (41 of 86) to CLE's 40%, 14 of 40 from three, and got to the line just 11 times against 28 fouls committed. WAS turned it over 17 times to CLE's 11, and CLE turned those into 10 steals. Coulibaly led with 27 (10 of 18, 5 of 8 from three); Poole added 17, Champagnie 16. Q1 was theirs, 25-25, but the other 3 periods went 90-80 against them. Carrington's -20 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/15 vs BOS 98-112 — WAS notes
WAS lost 98-112. WAS shot 40% (40 of 99) to BOS's 43%, 13 of 40 from three, and got to the line just 8 times against 25 fouls committed. Poole led with 21 (8 of 19, 3 of 11 from three); Coulibaly added 19, Sarr 14. Q4 was theirs, 26-21, the deficit cut from 19 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 91-72 against them. Davis's -22 in 13 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/19 vs CHA 123-114 — WAS notes
WAS won 123-114. WAS shot 49% (41 of 83) to CHA's 41%, 17 of 42 from three. WAS turned it over 18 times to CHA's 8, and CHA turned those into 12 steals. Poole led with 27 (7 of 15, 5 of 10 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Brogdon added 25, Sarr 19. The hinge was Q4, 36-28: a lead of 1 became 9. Brogdon was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/21 @ MIL 101-112 — WAS notes
WAS lost 101-112. WAS shot 44% (36 of 81) to MIL's 45%, 18 of 42 from three, and went to the line 16 times to MIL's 5 — 11 points from the stripe to their 4. WAS turned it over 19 times to MIL's 11, and MIL turned those into 12 steals. Poole led with 26 (8 of 19, 8 of 13 from three); Coulibaly added 20, Kispert 16. Q4 was theirs, 29-26, the deficit cut from 14 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 86-72 against them. Brogdon's -21 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 @ OKC 105-123 — WAS notes
WAS lost 105-123. WAS shot 40% (36 of 91) to OKC's 44%, 16 of 43 from three. WAS turned it over 19 times to OKC's 12, and OKC turned those into 15 steals. Poole led with 31 (9 of 20, 5 of 12 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Carrington added 14, Valančiūnas 12. Q1 was theirs, 32-29, but the other 3 periods went 94-73 against them. George's -21 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/26 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Poole at 24 and Coulibaly at 20 a game. Without Kuzma (10 straight). 2 days' rest. Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 25 from three, 23 free throws a game; Ball at 24 and Bridges at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Miller (3 straight), Gra. Williams (13 straight), Mann (14 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the arc, Washington at 38 percent from three to Charlotte's 25 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 18 times a game to Charlotte's 14. Call it Washington 112, Charlotte 110, Charlotte keeping it close.
12/28 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 114, shooting 43 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Poole at 26 and Coulibaly at 18 a game. Without Kuzma (11 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 105, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bridges at 24 and Brunson at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-7 a night and Washington minus-3 and the defense, New York allowing 105 a night to Washington's 114. Call it New York 117, Washington 109.
12/30 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Poole at 27 and Coulibaly at 18 a game. Without Kuzma (12 straight), Holmes (2 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 110, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brunson at 30 and Bridges at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 110 a night to Washington's 119 and the glass, where New York has been plus-3 a night and Washington minus-2. Call it New York 119, Washington 112.
1/01 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 121, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Poole at 27 and Coulibaly at 16 a game. Without Poole (2 straight), Holmes (3 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 119, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 15 free throws a game; LaVine at 20 and Vučević at 19 a game. Without Dosunmu (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Washington takes 20 free throws a game to Chicago's 15. Call it Chicago 117, Washington 116, Washington keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
OKCAC A. Caruso
AM A. Mitchell
AW A. Wiggins
CW C. Wallace
IH I. Hartenstein
IJ I. Joe
JW J. Williams
JW Jal. Williams
JW Jay. Williams
KW K. Williams
LD L. Dort
OD O. Dieng
SG S. Gilgeous-Alexander
WASBC B. Carrington
CK C. Kispert
JB J. Butler
JC J. Champagnie
JD J. Davis
JP J. Poole
JV J. Valančiūnas
KG K. George
MB M. Bagley III
MB M. Brogdon
PB P. Baldwin Jr.
RH R. Holmes
TV T. Vukcevic
OKC/WAS the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 41 in Thunder's 123-105 win over Wizards
OKLAHOMA CITY -- — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 41 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat Washington 123-105 on Monday night, sending the NBA-worst Wizards to their 21st loss in 23 games and 12th straight on the road.
Jalen Williams added 17 points and Isaiah Hartenstein had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Thunder, who have won eight of nine. Oklahoma City shot 44.3% from the field and made 19 of 22 free throws.
The Thunder led 67-63 at halftime and 91-87 after three quarters. They took control with a 19-3 run to open the final period.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who had two points after one quarter, made 14 of 25 shots, 3 of 6 3-pointers and 10 of 10 from the foul line. He exceeded 40 points for the second time this season and added nine rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks.
Jordan Poole scored 31 points, Carlton “Bub” Carrington added 14 and Jonas Valanciunas had 12 points and 16 rebounds for the Wizards. Washington played without double-figure scorers Kyle Kuzma , Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr, the team’s No. 2 overall draft pick.
Takeaways Wizards: Washington made 16 of its first 32 3-point attempts to keep the game close, but missed 11 straight after that.
Thunder: Oklahoma City struggled from distance, shooting only 26.3%, but rookie Ajay Mitchell , Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander made 3s early in the fourth quarter to help extend the lead to 15. Mitchell finished with 16 points.
Key moment Oklahoma City forward Jaylin Williams made his season debut to a loud ovation with 9:41 left in the second quarter. His 3-pointer less than a minute later capped a 13-0 run that gave the Thunder a 42-37 lead they never relinquished.
Key stat Washington committed 19 turnovers, leading to 24 points for Oklahoma City.