The Oklahoma City Thunder are continuing their gradual march to historic greatness.
The Thunder obliterated the Phoenix Suns, 138-89, Wednesday, Dec. 10 in their NBA Cup West Quarterfinal game in Oklahoma City. This marked the largest margin of victory — 49 points — in the NBA thus far in the 2025-26 season.
The Thunder outscored Phoenix by at least 11 points in each quarter, and Oklahoma City’s stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren sat the entire fourth quarter, like they have multiple times this season.
Gilgeous-Alexander led all players with 28 points, while Chet Holmgren added 24. Oklahoma City had six different players reach double figures in scoring and also had two others score 9 points. The Thunder shot 52-of-88 (59.1%) from the floor, including an absurd 22-of-40 (55%) from 3-point range.
The Thunder will play the winner of the other West Quarterfinal game Wednesday night, between the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers. The semifinal is set to take place Saturday, Dec. 13, in Las Vegas.
Suns vs. Thunder highlights
End Q3: Thunder 110, Suns 72
This one is all but over.
The Thunder have continued to dominate the short-handed Suns, who have sputtered on offense without Devin Booker. Frustrations with Phoenix’s performance seem to be getting to the Suns, as Grayson Allen was ejected after shoving Chet Holmgren, who scored 11 points in the period, drawing a flagrant 2 foul.
The Thunder scored 36 points in the third, continuing what has been a pristine offensive night; Oklahoma City also scored 36 in the second quarter and dropped 38 in the first.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the way with an ultra-efficient 28 points on 11-of-15 shooting. The Thunder are shooting 60.3% from the field, including a ridiculous 57.1% from beyond the arc.
Expect Thunder coach Mark Daigneault to rest his star players for most of the fourth quarter, if not the entire period. To that end, none of SGA, Holmgren and Jalen Williams were on the floor to start the fourth.
Grayson Allen ejected
With the margin in the NBA Cup West Quarterfinal between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns approaching 40 points, tensions flared momentarily.
Midway through the third quarter, Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen was on defense near the right wing when he braced himself and threw his weight into Thunder center Chet Holmgren, who was trying to slide past Allen into the right corner. Holmgren crashed into Allen and tumbled to the court, which led to Thunder forward Jalen Williams walking over to Allen and shoving him.
Players from each team then squared up, though officials were quick to defuse the situation and restore calm.
Upon replay review, NBA referee James Williams announced that Allen was being administered a flagrant 2 foul, prompting Allen’s ejection from the game. Williams cited windup and follow-through in assessing the flagrant foul.
Allen recorded 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting and added 4 assists, 1 rebound and 1 steal.
End Q2: Thunder 74, Suns 48
Steady as they are, the Oklahoma City Thunder seemed to have an answer in the second quarter to any Suns offensive.
The Thunder started the second quarter shooting just 2-of-8, which allowed Phoenix to mount a 9-2 run that momentarily closed the margin. But Oklahoma City did not relent and then followed that up with a 9-4 spurt. That OKC run unsurprisingly, was sparked by the defense.
Chet Holmgren swatted away a Dillon Brooks layup that led to a Kenrich Williams pullup jumper that extended the lead to 15. Minutes later, Aaron Wiggins jumped a passing lane to steal a Royce O’Neale pass; on the other end, he flushed a 3 to push the lead to 18.
From then on, it only got worse for the Suns, as the Thunder closed the half on a 17-6 run.
Oklahoma City has three players in double figures in scoring, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way with 17.
End Q1: Thunder 38, Suns 23
As they have all season long, the Thunder were methodical, deliberate and efficient in the first quarter. They attacked the paint with drives and kickouts.
They shot it extremely well: Oklahoma City laced 60.9% of its shots in the period, compared to Phoenix shooting just 9-of-25 (36%). They also clamped down on defense, generating 3 blocks and 3 steals in the quarter.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was collected and led his team with 9 points on 3-of-5 shooting and added 3 assists.
Grayson Allen led the Suns in scoring with 8 points, including knocking down a pair of 3s.
OKC off to the races
Playing their third game without Devin Booker (groin), the Suns have started the game doing the one thing they cannot afford to do: turn the ball over.
Phoenix has already given it away twice, including a Cason Wallace swipe just seconds into the game. The Thunder, meanwhile, are pushing pace and converting their offense on their terms.
Oklahoma City has opened an early 17-7 lead.
Oklahoma City Thunder starting lineup
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Cason Wallace
- Luguentz Dort
- Jalen Williams
- Chet Holmgren
Phoenix Suns starting lineup
- Collin Gillespie
- Grayson Allen
- Dillon Brooks
- Royce O’Neale
- Mark Williams
Devin Booker out
The Suns will be without their biggest star when they take on the Thunder. Devin Booker remains out with a right groin strain, the team announced.
What time is Suns vs. Thunder NBA Cup game today?
The Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. local) at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
Watch NBA Cup games with Amazon Prime Video
How to watch Suns vs. Thunder NBA Cup game: TV, live streaming
The game between the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder will be live streamed nationally on Amazon Prime Video. Thunder fans in Oklahoma can catch the game on FanDuel Sports Network, as well.
- Date: Dec. 10
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City)
- TV: N/A
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video; FanDuel Sports Network (locally in Oklahoma)
