Game ID: 22500484
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Golden State Warriors
Friday, January 2, 2026 at 10:00 PM ET
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
GSW 23 22 21 28 94OKC 34 30 31 36 131
GSW vs OKC ScoutingGSW vs OKC 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.
GSW availability going into 12/25 · 2 days' restOUT Kuminga missed 2 since 12/20, out tonight
OUT Horford missed 7 since 12/06, returns tonight: 11 min (53% of 22)
OUT Set. Curry missed 7 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Ste. Curry back 12/12 after 5, 33 min since (108% of 31)
BACK Green back 12/14 after 3, 22 min since (78% of 28)
BACK Richard back 12/20 after 3, 16 min since (80% of 20)
NEW Post 17 to 26 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 12/28 · 2 days' restOUT Kuminga missed 3 since 12/20, out tonight
OUT Set. Curry missed 8 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Green back 12/14 after 3, 23 min since (83% of 28)
BACK Horford back 12/25 after 7, 11 min since (53% of 22)
BACK Richard back 12/20 after 3, 15 min since (75% of 20)
GSW availability going into 12/29 · back-to-backOUT Kuminga missed 4 since 12/20, out tonight
OUT Santos missed 2 since 12/25, returns tonight: 19 min (94% of 20)
OUT Spencer missed 2 since 12/25, returns tonight: 10 min (55% of 19)
OUT Set. Curry missed 9 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Horford back 12/25 after 7, 14 min since (66% of 22)
BACK Richard back 12/20 after 3, 20 min since (100% of 20)
GSW availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Kuminga missed 5 since 12/20, out tonight
OUT Set. Curry missed 10 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Horford back 12/25 after 7, 14 min since (66% of 22)
BACK Santos back 12/29 after 2, 19 min since (94% of 20)
BACK Richard back 12/20 after 3, 21 min since (103% of 20)
BACK Spencer back 12/29 after 2, 10 min since (55% of 19)
GSW availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Kuminga missed 6 since 12/20, out tonight
OUT Set. Curry missed 11 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Horford back 12/25 after 7, 14 min since (64% of 22)
BACK Santos back 12/29 after 2, 18 min since (88% of 20)
BACK Spencer back 12/29 after 2, 8 min since (44% of 19)
GSW availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Kuminga missed 7 since 12/20, out tonight
OUT Set. Curry missed 12 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Horford back 12/25 after 7, 14 min since (67% of 22)
BACK Santos back 12/29 after 2, 21 min since (101% of 20)
BACK Spencer back 12/29 after 2, 16 min since (85% of 19)
GSW availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Kuminga missed 8 since 12/20, out tonight
OUT Set. Curry missed 13 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Santos back 12/29 after 2, 18 min since (86% of 20)
BACK Spencer back 12/29 after 2, 16 min since (85% of 19)
NEW Jackson-Davis 11 to 17 min over the last 4
GSW availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Kuminga missed 9 since 12/20, out tonight
OUT Spencer missed 2 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Hield missed 2 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Set. Curry missed 14 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Santos back 12/29 after 2, 16 min since (80% of 20)
GSW availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Kuminga missed 10 since 12/20, out tonight
OUT Spencer missed 3 since 1/03, returns tonight: 4 min (24% of 19)
OUT Hield missed 3 since 1/03, returns tonight: 4 min (26% of 18)
OUT Set. Curry missed 15 since 12/06, out tonight
OKC availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT J. Williams missed 4 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 4 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Hartenstein back 12/19 after 7, 27 min since (110% of 24)
BACK Joe back 12/18 after 3, 18 min since (90% of 20)
BACK Wiggins back 12/23 after 2, 11 min since (58% of 19)
OKC availability going into 12/28 · 2 days' restOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 12/23, returns tonight: 20 min (76% of 26)
OUT J. Williams missed 5 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 5 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Hartenstein back 12/19 after 7, 26 min since (106% of 24)
BACK Joe back 12/18 after 3, 17 min since (87% of 20)
BACK Wiggins back 12/23 after 2, 13 min since (66% of 19)
OKC availability going into 12/29 · back-to-backOUT J. Williams missed 6 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 6 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/28 after 2, 20 min since (76% of 26)
BACK Hartenstein back 12/19 after 7, 24 min since (100% of 24)
BACK Wiggins back 12/23 after 2, 16 min since (84% of 19)
OKC availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT J. Williams missed 7 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 7 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/28 after 2, 22 min since (83% of 26)
BACK Wiggins back 12/23 after 2, 15 min since (78% of 19)
OKC availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT J. Williams missed 8 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 8 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/28 after 2, 22 min since (84% of 26)
BACK Wiggins back 12/23 after 2, 16 min since (85% of 19)
OKC availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 3 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT J. Williams missed 9 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 9 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/28 after 2, 23 min since (87% of 26)
OKC availability going into 1/05 · back-to-backOUT Hartenstein missed 4 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT J. Williams missed 10 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 10 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/28 after 2, 24 min since (90% of 26)
OKC availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 5 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT J. Williams missed 11 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 11 since 12/18, out tonight
OKC availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 6 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Caruso missed 2 since 1/05, returns tonight: 24 min (124% of 19)
OUT J. Williams missed 12 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 12 since 12/18, returns tonight: 7 min (65% of 11)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Ste. Curry at 28 and Butler III at 19 a game. Without Kuminga (6 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Holmgren at 16 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Hartenstein (2 straight), J. Williams (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Golden State giving it away 15 times a game to OKC's 12. Call it Golden State 118, OKC 117, OKC keeping it close.
12/25 vs DAL 126-116 — GSW notes
GSW won 126-116. GSW shot 44% (44 of 99) to DAL's 55%, 14 of 50 from three. Curry led with 23 (6 of 18, 2 of 10 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Melton added 16, Butler III 14. The hinge was Q1, 40-28: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Melton was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
12/28 @ TOR 127-141 — GSW notes
GSW lost 127-141 in 1 overtime. GSW shot 45% (43 of 96) to TOR's 51%, 16 of 44 from three, and went to the line 28 times to TOR's 18 — 25 points from the stripe to their 16. GSW turned it over 20 times to TOR's 14, and TOR turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 42-55 against them. Curry led with 39 (12 of 30, 4 of 11 from three, 11 of 11 at the line); Green added 21, Butler III 19. Q3 was theirs, 36-31, turning a 1-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 4 periods went 110-91 against them. They led by as many as 13. Podziemski's -23 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/29 @ BKN 120-107 — GSW notes
GSW won 120-107. GSW shot 53% (41 of 77) to BKN's 45%, 10 of 33 from three, and went to the line 34 times to BKN's 23 — 28 points from the stripe to their 17. Curry led with 27 (8 of 15, 5 of 12 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Butler III added 21, Jackson-Davis 11. The hinge was Q4, 31-22: a lead of 4 became 13. Melton was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
12/31 @ CHA 132-125 — GSW notes
GSW won 132-125. GSW shot 55% (46 of 83) to CHA's 52%, 24 of 49 from three. Curry led with 26 (9 of 16, 5 of 10 from three); Butler III added 19, Podziemski 19. The hinge was Q4, 34-25: GSW came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 7, and the lead reached 15. Green was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
1/02 vs OKC 94-131 — GSW notes
GSW lost 94-131. GSW shot 36% (32 of 90) to OKC's 52%, 13 of 44 from three. Richard led with 13 (5 of 15, 2 of 6 from three); Moody added 13, Horford 13. Q2 was theirs, 22-30, but the other 3 periods went 101-72 against them. Spencer's -41 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/03 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 124, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Ste. Curry at 29 and Butler III at 18 a game. Without Kuminga (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 125, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 29 free throws a game; George at 30 and Markkanen at 27 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Kessler (28 straight), Bailey (3 straight), Harkless (19 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Golden State 122, Utah 120, Utah keeping it close.
1/05 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 27 free throws a game; Leonard at 37 and Harden at 24 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Bogdanović (4 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 124, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Ste. Curry at 31 and Butler III at 18 a game. Without Kuminga (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 108 a night to Golden State's 124 and the turnovers, Golden State giving it away 16 times a game to the Clippers' 9. Call it the Clippers 118, Golden State 113.
1/07 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Ste. Curry at 28 and Butler III at 20 a game. Without Kuminga (9 straight), Spencer (2 straight), Hield (2 straight). One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gia. Antetokounmpo at 31 and Rollins at 18 a game. Without Prince (28 straight), Nance (5 straight), Anthony (5 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the defense, Milwaukee allowing 110 a night to Golden State's 116. Call it Golden State 115, Milwaukee 114, Milwaukee keeping it close.
1/09 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Ste. Curry at 29 and Butler III at 20 a game. Without Kuminga (10 straight), Spencer (3 straight), Hield (3 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 119, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 22 free throws a game; DeRozan at 16 and Westbrook at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Sabonis (23 straight), Plowden (25 straight), Monk (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the arc, Golden State at 37 percent from three to Sacramento's 31 and the glass, where Golden State has been minus-1 a night and Sacramento minus-7. Call it Golden State 119, Sacramento 108, Golden State by 11.
12/25 vs SAS 102-117 — OKC notes
OKC lost 102-117. OKC took 11 more shots (95 to 84), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to SAS's 54%, 11 of 44 from three. OKC turned it over 7 times to SAS's 12. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 22 (7 of 19, 1 of 6 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Hartenstein added 13, J. Williams 12. Q4 was theirs, 23-22, the deficit cut from 16 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 95-79 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander's -15 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/28 vs PHI 129-104 — OKC notes
OKC won 129-104. OKC shot 57% (50 of 87) to PHI's 42%, 10 of 28 from three. OKC turned it over 13 times to PHI's 23. Holmgren led with 29 (12 of 17, 2 of 4 from three); Gilgeous-Alexander added 27, Wiggins 15. The hinge was Q3, 38-24: a lead of 2 became 16, and the lead reached 27. Holmgren was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/29 vs ATL 140-129 — OKC notes
OKC won 140-129. OKC shot 54% (53 of 98) to ATL's 47%, 12 of 32 from three, and went to the line 23 times to ATL's 17 — 22 points from the stripe to their 12. The glass went 49-38 for them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 39 (15 of 24, 2 of 5 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Holmgren added 24, J. Williams 20. The hinge was Q3, 43-29: OKC came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 10, and the lead reached 15. OKC trailed 70-74 at the half and won the second half 70-55. Wallace was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/31 vs POR 124-95 — OKC notes
OKC won 124-95. OKC shot 49% (44 of 90) to POR's 39%, 16 of 49 from three, and went to the line 26 times to POR's 17 — 20 points from the stripe to their 13. OKC turned it over 14 times to POR's 24. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 30 (11 of 15, 7 of 7 at the line); Mitchell added 17, Joe 15. The hinge was Q2, 35-25: a lead of 8 became 18, and the lead reached 31. Holmgren was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
1/02 @ GSW 131-94 — OKC notes
OKC won 131-94. OKC shot 52% (48 of 92) to GSW's 36%, 16 of 38 from three. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 30 (10 of 20, 3 of 5 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Wiggins added 15, Holmgren 15. The hinge was Q1, 34-23: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 41. Dort was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
1/04 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Booker at 27 and Brooks at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Allen (8 straight), Green (24 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Holmgren at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Hartenstein (3 straight), J. Williams (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-6 a night and OKC plus-1. Call it OKC 116, Phoenix 114, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/05 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 106, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Holmgren at 20 a game. Without Hartenstein (4 straight), J. Williams (10 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Miller at 24 and Ball at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Diabaté (2 straight), Kalkbrenner (7 straight), Williams (28 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-8 a night and OKC minus-3 and the defense, OKC allowing 106 a night to Charlotte's 116. Call it OKC 121, Charlotte 111, OKC by 10.
1/07 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 29 and Holmgren at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Hartenstein (5 straight), J. Williams (11 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 124, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Markkanen at 27 and George at 26 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Kessler (30 straight), Bailey (5 straight), Harkless (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 110 a night to Utah's 124 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 15 times a game to OKC's 11. Call it OKC 124, Utah 112, OKC by 12.
1/09 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 19 and Coward at 16 a game. Without Morant (3 straight), Coward (2 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Holmgren at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Hartenstein (6 straight), Caruso (2 straight), J. Williams (12 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-2 a night and OKC minus-11 and the defense, OKC allowing 109 a night to Memphis's 122. Call it OKC 118, Memphis 113.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
OKCAC A. Caruso
AM A. Mitchell
AW A. Wiggins
BC B. Carlson
CH C. Holmgren
CW C. Wallace
CY C. Youngblood
IJ I. Joe
JW J. Williams
KW K. Williams
LD L. Dort
SG S. Gilgeous-Alexander
GSWAH A. Horford
BH B. Hield
BP B. Podziemski
GP G. Payton II
GS G. Santos
MM M. Moody
PS P. Spencer
QP Q. Post
TJ T. Jackson-Davis
WR W. Richard
OKC/GSW 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
SAN FRANCISCO -- — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and seven assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the short-handed Golden State Warriors for a 131-94 win Friday night.
Stephen Curry sat out because of a left ankle sprain and backcourt mate Jimmy Butler became ill earlier in the day. Draymond Green rested, while Jonathan Kuminga missed the game with back soreness.
That left Steve Kerr's starting lineup as Brandin Podziemski , Moses Moody , Will Richard , Gui Santos and Quinten Post .
Kerr was optimistic Curry would play Saturday against the Jazz.
Gilgeous-Alexander shot 10 for 20 with three 3-pointers and converted all seven of his free throws for his seventh game in the last nine with 30 or more points — and now three straight. He had 38 points on 13-for-21 shooting with five 3-pointers in the last matchup against the Warriors.
Chet Holmgren contributed 15 points and a season-best 15 rebounds — two off his career high — as Oklahoma City (30-5) won a fourth straight following its first two-game skid of the season.
Richard had 13 points and five rebounds, Al Horford and Moody also scored 13 while Pat Spencer dished out 11 assists against the defending champion Thunder, who had lost their previous two road games but also won 124-112 at Golden State exactly a month earlier on Dec. 2.
Richard's 3-pointer with 7:19 left in the second quarter got Golden State within 38-36 before Oklahoma City answered with a 19-0 run to go ahead 64-45 at halftime.
The Warriors had won two straight, five of six and three in a row at home, where they are in a stretch with 10 of 11 at Chase Center.
Up next Thunder: Visit Phoenix on Sunday.
Warriors: Host Utah on Saturday night to complete a back-to-back.