Even with three ejections, Gilgeous-Alexander's scoring explosion secured OKC's eleventh straight win, showcasing surprising depth against Washington.
Behind 40 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder won its 11th straight game on Saturday evening, taking down the Washington Wizards 132-111 in D.C.
But the final score did not fully reflect how this game played out.
For much of the first half, this was a fairly competitive contest, and even at different points in the third quarter, it still felt closer than it should have. But after a 13-point second quarter and a 16-point third quarter from Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder finally created the separation needed to take control. That allowed him to play only a small role in the fourth quarter as Oklahoma City closed things out.
It was also a game that featured plenty of chaos. Three Thunder players were ejected following a scuffle, with Jaylin Williams, Ajay Mitchell and Cason Wallace all tossed. But even after losing three rotation pieces, it did not matter. The Thunder had more than enough firepower, and others stepped up in their absence.
Chet Holmgren finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Jared McCain added 18 points. Ajay Mitchell had 14 before being ejected, while Kenrich Williams chipped in 11.
Overall, it was just a strong finish from Oklahoma City. The Thunder won a game it was supposed to win, outrebounded the Wizards by 21, dished out more assists, shot better from the floor and led for nearly 35 minutes.
From here, the Thunder will get a day of rest before taking on the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night as the road trip continues.