Game ID: 42500143
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Phoenix Suns
Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 3:30 PM ET
Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 28 25 26 30 109OKC 33 29 25 34 121
OKC @ PHX ScoutingOKC @ PHX 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.
PHX availability going into 4/10 · 1 day's restOUT Highsmith missed 11 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Huntley missed 5 since 3/31, returns tonight: 4 min (42% of 10)
BACK Brooks back 3/31 after 18, 30 min since (98% of 31)
BACK Williams back 4/02 after 15, 25 min since (104% of 24)
BACK Coffey back 4/08 after 9, 6 min since (51% of 12)
PHX availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restOUT Highsmith missed 12 since 3/19, returns tonight: 10 min (93% of 11)
BACK Williams back 4/02 after 15, 24 min since (100% of 24)
BACK Coffey back 4/08 after 9, 13 min since (114% of 12)
BACK Huntley back 4/10 after 5, 4 min since (42% of 10)
PHX availability going into 4/19 · 6 days' restOUT Booker missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 33 min (98% of 34)
OUT Green missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 32 min (116% of 27)
OUT Goodwin missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 5 min (23% of 22)
BACK Coffey back 4/08 after 9, 18 min since (153% of 12)
BACK Highsmith back 4/12 after 12, 10 min since (93% of 11)
BACK Huntley back 4/10 after 5, 17 min since (165% of 10)
NEW Fleming 12 to 19 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 4/22 · 2 days' restOUT Allen missed 2 since 4/12, out tonight
BACK Booker back 4/19 after 2, 33 min since (98% of 34)
BACK Green back 4/19 after 2, 32 min since (116% of 27)
BACK Goodwin back 4/19 after 2, 5 min since (23% of 22)
BACK Coffey back 4/08 after 9, 14 min since (124% of 12)
BACK Highsmith back 4/12 after 12, 9 min since (80% of 11)
BACK Huntley back 4/10 after 5, 17 min since (165% of 10)
NEW Fleming 12 to 17 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 4/25 · 2 days' restOUT Allen missed 3 since 4/12, returns tonight: 17 min (60% of 28)
BACK Booker back 4/19 after 2, 37 min since (108% of 34)
BACK Green back 4/19 after 2, 36 min since (134% of 27)
BACK Goodwin back 4/19 after 2, 5 min since (23% of 22)
BACK Coffey back 4/08 after 9, 12 min since (100% of 12)
BACK Highsmith back 4/12 after 12, 9 min since (80% of 11)
BACK Huntley back 4/10 after 5, 17 min since (165% of 10)
NEW Fleming 12 to 17 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 4/27 · 1 day's restBACK Booker back 4/19 after 2, 38 min since (111% of 34)
BACK Allen back 4/25 after 3, 17 min since (60% of 28)
BACK Green back 4/19 after 2, 37 min since (137% of 27)
BACK Goodwin back 4/19 after 2, 5 min since (23% of 22)
BACK Highsmith back 4/12 after 12, 7 min since (64% of 11)
BACK Huntley back 4/10 after 5, 17 min since (165% of 10)
OKC availability going into 4/10 · 1 day's restOUT Sandfort missed 6 since 3/29, returns tonight: 28 min (179% of 16)
BACK Carlson back 4/02 after 2, 9 min since (79% of 12)
OKC availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restBACK Sandfort back 4/10 after 6, 28 min since (179% of 16)
BACK Carlson back 4/02 after 2, 16 min since (140% of 12)
OKC availability going into 4/19 · 6 days' restOUT Gilgeous-Alexande missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 29 min (87% of 34)
OUT Holmgren missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 25 min (85% of 29)
OUT Jal. Williams missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 29 min (107% of 27)
OUT Mitchell missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 22 min (83% of 26)
OUT Wallace missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 21 min (78% of 26)
OUT Hartenstein missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 20 min (82% of 24)
OUT Joe missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 20 min (102% of 20)
OUT Caruso missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 13 min (69% of 19)
OUT J. Williams missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 10 min (51% of 19)
BACK Sandfort back 4/10 after 6, 28 min since (178% of 16)
NEW Carlson 12 to 24 min over the last 4
OKC availability going into 4/22 · 2 days' restBACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 4/19 after 2, 29 min since (87% of 34)
BACK Holmgren back 4/19 after 2, 25 min since (85% of 29)
BACK Jal. Williams back 4/19 after 2, 29 min since (107% of 27)
BACK Mitchell back 4/19 after 2, 22 min since (83% of 26)
BACK Wallace back 4/19 after 2, 21 min since (78% of 26)
BACK Hartenstein back 4/19 after 2, 20 min since (82% of 24)
BACK Joe back 4/19 after 2, 20 min since (102% of 20)
BACK Caruso back 4/19 after 2, 13 min since (69% of 19)
BACK J. Williams back 4/19 after 2, 10 min since (51% of 19)
BACK Sandfort back 4/10 after 6, 28 min since (178% of 16)
NEW Carlson 12 to 29 min over the last 3
OKC availability going into 4/25 · 2 days' restBACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 4/19 after 2, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Holmgren back 4/19 after 2, 29 min since (98% of 29)
BACK Jal. Williams back 4/19 after 2, 26 min since (96% of 27)
BACK Mitchell back 4/19 after 2, 25 min since (97% of 26)
BACK Wallace back 4/19 after 2, 21 min since (80% of 26)
BACK Hartenstein back 4/19 after 2, 21 min since (87% of 24)
BACK Joe back 4/19 after 2, 17 min since (89% of 20)
BACK Caruso back 4/19 after 2, 18 min since (95% of 19)
BACK J. Williams back 4/19 after 2, 10 min since (55% of 19)
BACK Sandfort back 4/10 after 6, 28 min since (178% of 16)
NEW K. Williams 14 to 19 min over the last 4
OKC availability going into 4/27 · 1 day's restBACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 4/19 after 2, 35 min since (104% of 34)
BACK Holmgren back 4/19 after 2, 29 min since (99% of 29)
BACK Jal. Williams back 4/19 after 2, 26 min since (96% of 27)
BACK Mitchell back 4/19 after 2, 28 min since (106% of 26)
BACK Wallace back 4/19 after 2, 23 min since (86% of 26)
BACK Hartenstein back 4/19 after 2, 22 min since (90% of 24)
BACK Joe back 4/19 after 2, 17 min since (89% of 20)
BACK Caruso back 4/19 after 2, 20 min since (102% of 19)
BACK J. Williams back 4/19 after 2, 14 min since (73% of 19)
BACK Sandfort back 4/10 after 6, 28 min since (178% of 16)
OKC availability going into 5/05 · 7 days' restOUT Jal. Williams missed 2 since 4/25, out tonight
BACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 4/19 after 2, 36 min since (106% of 34)
BACK Holmgren back 4/19 after 2, 30 min since (104% of 29)
BACK Mitchell back 4/19 after 2, 29 min since (111% of 26)
BACK Wallace back 4/19 after 2, 23 min since (86% of 26)
BACK Hartenstein back 4/19 after 2, 24 min since (98% of 24)
BACK Joe back 4/19 after 2, 14 min since (71% of 20)
BACK Caruso back 4/19 after 2, 21 min since (109% of 19)
BACK J. Williams back 4/19 after 2, 13 min since (67% of 19)
OKC availability going into 5/07 · 1 day's restOUT Jal. Williams missed 3 since 4/25, out tonight
BACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 4/19 after 2, 36 min since (106% of 34)
BACK Holmgren back 4/19 after 2, 30 min since (104% of 29)
BACK Mitchell back 4/19 after 2, 29 min since (110% of 26)
BACK Wallace back 4/19 after 2, 22 min since (83% of 26)
BACK Hartenstein back 4/19 after 2, 24 min since (99% of 24)
BACK Joe back 4/19 after 2, 13 min since (68% of 20)
BACK Caruso back 4/19 after 2, 21 min since (108% of 19)
BACK J. Williams back 4/19 after 2, 14 min since (75% of 19)
OKC availability going into 5/09 · 1 day's restOUT Jal. Williams missed 4 since 4/25, out tonight
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Booker at 27 and Brooks at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Allen (3 straight). 2 days' rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 27 and Holmgren at 22 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 16 times a game to OKC's 10 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-6 a night and OKC minus-2. Call it OKC 113, Phoenix 110, Phoenix keeping it close.
4/10 @ LAL 73-101 — PHX notes
PHX lost 73-101. PHX took 8 more shots (77 to 69), fed by 18 offensive rebounds, but shot 34% to LAL's 51%, 7 of 40 from three, and got to the line 21 times to LAL's 30. PHX turned it over 23 times to LAL's 11, and LAL turned those into 17 steals. The glass went 47-35 for them. Brooks led with 12 (5 of 14, 0 of 4 from three); O'Neale added 11. Q2 was theirs, 24-24, but the other 3 periods went 77-49 against them. Dunn's -39 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/12 @ OKC 135-103 — PHX notes
PHX won 135-103. PHX shot 55% (56 of 101) to OKC's 43%, 20 of 41 from three. The glass went 54-36 for them. Bouyea led with 27 (12 of 23, 3 of 8 from three); Brea added 20, Dunn 20. The hinge was Q1, 37-19: from level to 18 ahead, and the lead reached 32. Bouyea was the night's best plus/minus at +37.
4/19 @ OKC 84-119 — PHX notes
PHX lost 84-119. PHX shot 35% (29 of 83) to OKC's 45%, 13 of 39 from three. PHX turned it over 17 times to OKC's 6, and OKC turned those into 13 steals. Booker led with 23 (8 of 17, 2 of 5 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Brooks added 18, Green 17. Q4 was theirs, 18-22, but the other 3 periods went 97-66 against them. Gillespie's -35 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/22 @ OKC 107-120 — PHX notes
PHX lost 107-120. PHX shot 46% (39 of 85) to OKC's 47%, 11 of 31 from three. PHX turned it over 21 times to OKC's 10, and OKC turned those into 14 steals. Brooks led with 30 (12 of 23, 5 of 9 from three); Booker added 22, Green 21. Q4 was theirs, 30-20, the deficit cut from 23 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 100-77 against them. Ighodaro's -23 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/25 vs OKC 109-121 — PHX notes
PHX lost 109-121. PHX shot 44% (38 of 87) to OKC's 49%, 13 of 41 from three. Brooks led with 33 (11 of 21, 4 of 9 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Green added 26, Booker 16. Q3 was theirs, 26-25, the deficit cut from 9 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 96-83 against them. Allen's -16 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/27 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 113, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brooks at 23 and Green at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 35 and Holmgren at 15 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 17 times a game to OKC's 9 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-4 a night and OKC minus-2. Call it OKC 113, Phoenix 110, Phoenix keeping it close.
4/10 @ DEN 107-127 — OKC notes
OKC lost 107-127. OKC shot 42% (42 of 99) to DEN's 51%, 14 of 44 from three. Carlson led with 23 (8 of 18, 3 of 10 from three); Williams added 15, McCain 15. Q3 was theirs, 34-31, the deficit cut from 8 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 96-73 against them. Williams's -22 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/12 vs PHX 103-135 — OKC notes
OKC lost 103-135. OKC shot 43% (41 of 95) to PHX's 55%, 18 of 46 from three. The glass went 36-54 against them. Carlson led with 26 (10 of 20, 5 of 10 from three); Sandfort added 23, Topić 18. Q2 was theirs, 33-33, but the other 3 periods went 102-70 against them. McCain's -29 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/19 vs PHX 119-84 — OKC notes
OKC won 119-84. OKC shot 45% (42 of 93) to PHX's 35%, 14 of 46 from three. OKC turned it over 6 times to PHX's 17. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 25 (5 of 18, 0 of 4 from three, 15 of 17 at the line); Jal. Williams added 22, Holmgren 16. The hinge was Q1, 35-20: from level to 15 ahead, and the lead reached 39. Gilgeous-Alexander was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
4/22 vs PHX 120-107 — OKC notes
OKC won 120-107. OKC shot 47% (43 of 91) to PHX's 46%, 14 of 40 from three. OKC turned it over 10 times to PHX's 21. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 37 (13 of 25, 2 of 5 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Holmgren added 19, Jal. Williams 19. The hinge was Q3, 35-20: a lead of 8 became 23, and the lead reached 26. Jal. Williams was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
4/25 @ PHX 121-109 — OKC notes
OKC won 121-109. OKC shot 49% (45 of 91) to PHX's 44%, 12 of 37 from three. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 42 (15 of 18, 1 of 3 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Mitchell added 15, Caruso 13. The hinge was Q1, 33-28: from level to 5 ahead, and the lead reached 16. J. Williams was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
4/27 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 113, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brooks at 23 and Green at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 35 and Holmgren at 15 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 17 times a game to OKC's 9 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-4 a night and OKC minus-2. Call it OKC 113, Phoenix 110, Phoenix keeping it close.
5/05 vs LAL — 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 119 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Holmgren at 17 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Jal. Williams (2 straight). 7 days' rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 99, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; James at 24 and Hachimura at 16 a game. 3 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 99 a night to OKC's 111 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 16 times a game to OKC's 10. Call it OKC 114, the Lakers 107.
5/07 vs LAL — 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 120 a night and allowing 102, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Holmgren at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Jal. Williams (3 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 102, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; James at 24 and Hachimura at 17 a game. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 17 times a game to OKC's 11. Call it OKC 115, the Lakers 104, OKC by 11.
5/09 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 97 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; James at 23 and Reaves at 19 a game. One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 107, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Holmgren at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Jal. Williams (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 17 times a game to OKC's 12 and the arc, OKC at 40 percent from three to the Lakers' 33. Call it OKC 113, the Lakers 108.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
OKCAC A. Caruso
AM A. Mitchell
AW A. Wiggins
CH C. Holmgren
CW C. Wallace
IH I. Hartenstein
JM J. McCain
JW J. Williams
KW K. Williams
LD L. Dort
SG S. Gilgeous-Alexander
PHXAC A. Coffey
CG C. Gillespie
DB D. Booker
DB D. Brooks
DU Dunn
GA G. Allen
HH H. Highsmith
JG J. Green
KM K. Maluach
OI O. Ighodaro
RO R. O'Neale
OKC/PHX 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
Gilgeous-Alexander scores 42, Thunder beat Suns 121-109 to take a 3-0 series lead
PHOENIX -- — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points in a brilliant shooting performance, Ajay Mitchell added 15 in place of the injured Jalen Williams and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Phoenix Suns 121-109 on Saturday to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference first-round series.
Gilgeous-Alexander — the league's reigning MVP — hit 15 of 18 shots on a variety of tough looks, frustrating a Suns defense that actually played decently for much of the game. Alex Caruso added 13 points off the bench while Chet Holmgren had 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
The defending champion Thunder will go for the sweep in Game 4 on Monday in Phoenix.
Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 33 points on 11-of-21 shooting while Jalen Green added 26.
Oklahoma City took an 87-79 lead after three quarters and never trailed in the fourth. Gilegous-Alexander hit a difficult fallaway 19-foot jumper to put the Thunder up 102-87 with about five minutes left, deflating the Suns crowd and pretty much ending any hope for a comeback.
The Thunder were leading 69-60 early in the third quarter when Suns guard Devin Booker hurt his left ankle on a drive to the basket. He stayed on the floor for a few seconds in obvious pain before getting up and hobbling back to the locker room.
The five-time All-Star returned a few minutes later to huge cheers from the home crowd, making a short baseline jumper and a 3-pointer to cut the Thunder's lead to 75-69.
Oklahoma City scored the next six points to turn back the rally. Booker finished with 16 points and seven assists.
The Suns took an early 24-15 lead but the Thunder erased the deficit in a hurry, hitting four 3-pointers during a 16-3 run. The game was tight throughout the rest of the first half with Oklahoma City surging ahead late in the second quarter for a 62-53 lead.
Gilgeous-Alexander made all seven of his shots before the break to lead the Thunder with 17 points. Brooks scored 13 for the Suns.
The Thunder were without Williams, the high-scoring guard who hurt his left hamstring in Game 2. Mitchell started in his place and shot just 5 of 20 from the field, but added six rebounds and two assists.
The Suns were without center Mark Williams (foot) and guard Jordan Goodwin (calf). Grayson Allen returned from a hamstring injury and scored seven points in 17 minutes.