Canadian star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the LA Clippers 108-101 at Paycom Center on Sunday, October 25, 2026. The win moved Oklahoma City to 3-0 to start the NBA season, but the night ended with serious concern for forward Jalen Williams, who left the game late after an awkward landing.
Gilgeous-Alexander added six rebounds, five assists and two steals on 13 of 26 shooting in 36 minutes. Ajay Mitchell scored 18 points off the Thunder bench, and Isaiah Hartenstein added 12 points and 12 rebounds as Oklahoma City protected a lead built in a strong third quarter and closed the game out in the fourth.
A Tight Game Oklahoma City Took Over Late
The contest stayed close for most of the night. Oklahoma City led 23-20 after the first quarter, the Clippers answered to lead at half time behind a 26-20 second quarter, and the Thunder responded with a 34-30 third quarter to carry a narrow edge into the final period.
Oklahoma City won the fourth quarter 31-25 to finish the job. That closing stretch is where Gilgeous-Alexander influence showed most clearly. The Clippers kept the game within reach and forced the Thunder to execute late, but the home side found scores when the pressure rose and never gave the lead back in the closing minutes.
Darius Garland led the Clippers with 16 points, four rebounds and 11 assists. The loss dropped the Clippers to 1-2, while Oklahoma City perfect start continued with a third straight win to open the campaign. Alex Caruso also contributed 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Thunder, a line that underlined how much support Gilgeous-Alexander had around him on a night when the rotation was stretched by injuries.
The Injury That Changed The Mood
The result became secondary in the fourth quarter. Williams, who had scored eight points in about 32 minutes, went up for a dunk attempt late in the game, landed awkwardly and stayed down as medical staff rushed to him. He was taken from the floor on a stretcher and gave the crowd two thumbs up as he left, a small sign of encouragement on a frightening play.
Reports from the game also listed concern for starter Cason Wallace, and the Thunder left the floor waiting for updates on both players. For a team that has built its rise around a young core, the health of Williams is central to everything Oklahoma City wants to do this season, and any extended absence would place immediate strain on the starting lineup.
Gilgeous-Alexander was visibly emotional when he was asked about his teammate after the game.
I just feel bad for him. Nothing more than that.
Williams injury history makes the moment harder for the Thunder to absorb. He was limited to 33 regular season appearances last season and missed significant postseason time with hamstring problems, after playing through a torn ligament in his right hand during the championship run in 2025 and having surgery on it afterward. A player who has already fought through that much time on the sideline now faces another anxious wait for a diagnosis.
What Gilgeous-Alexander Form Means
Through the noise of the finish, the basketball story remains the level of the Canadian guard leading this team. Thirty four points on efficient volume, with rebounds, assists and steals on top, is the complete version of Gilgeous-Alexander game, the one that has made him the centre of the Thunder project and one of the most important Canadian players in the league.
Oklahoma City are 3-0, and wins like this one show why. When a game tightens in the second half, the Thunder can put the ball in their best player hands and trust the possession. Mitchell 18 points, Hartenstein double double and Caruso all round contribution gave that star performance a platform, but Gilgeous-Alexander set the terms.
What Comes Next For The Thunder
The Thunder next step depends first on medical news. Updates on Williams ankle and lower leg injury, and on Wallace, will shape the rotation for the games ahead far more than anything in the box score from Sunday night.
On the floor, Oklahoma City have started exactly how a contender wants to start, with three wins from three and their leader playing at full speed. Off the floor, the mood is concern for a teammate whose night ended on a stretcher. Both things are true of the 108-101 win over the Clippers, and the second one will decide how this week in Oklahoma City is remembered.
