Ill but Unstoppable: Gilgeous-Alexander Drops 40 as Thunder Beat Wolves, Move to 18–1 in NBA Cup Clash

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a remarkable 40-point performance while battling illness, powering the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 113–105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA Cup game on Wednesday night. Listed as questionable before tip-off, the All-Star guard showed no signs of slowing down once the game began, hitting 12 of 19 shots and sinking an impressive 15 of 17 free throws. 

The victory extended Oklahoma City’s winning streak to 10 games and pushed its season record to an extraordinary 18–1, making the Thunder just the fifth team in NBA history to start a season that well.

The Thunder also improved to 4–0 in West Group A, tightening their grip on a spot in the knockout round. Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring feat came with an added milestone: he has now scored at least 20 points in 91 consecutive games, the third-longest streak in NBA history. He is now just one game away from matching Wilt Chamberlain’s second-longest run of 92 straight 20-point outings, a record he can tie on Friday against Phoenix.

Minnesota, meanwhile, battled hard but ultimately fell short, dropping its third straight contest. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 31 points and eight rebounds, keeping his team competitive with a string of tough, high-difficulty shots. However, Minnesota’s free-throw woes proved costly as the team managed to convert just 22 of 37 attempts from the line.

Wednesday’s showdown also served as a rematch of last season’s Western Conference finals, where the Thunder eliminated the Wolves 4–1. The last time Minnesota visited Paycom Center, it suffered a heavy 124–94 defeat in Game 5 as Oklahoma City clinched the West. This time, the Wolves showed much more resistance, but the Thunder’s late-game execution once again proved decisive.

Oklahoma City jumped ahead early, leading 24–17 after the opening quarter, marking Minnesota’s second-lowest scoring quarter of the season. Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 19 points in the first half to help the Thunder take a 49–39 advantage into the break. Minnesota fought back in the third quarter, tying the game at 54 and again at 56, but the Thunder regained control and entered the final period up 78–71.

In the closing minute, Edwards hit a contested three to cut the Thunder lead to one, but rookie sensation Chet Holmgren responded with a clutch corner triple to restore a four-point cushion with 38 seconds left. Oklahoma City then dominated the final stretch, outscoring the Timberwolves 8–1 in the last 60 seconds to seal the win.

For a team battling injuries and illness, the Thunder’s resilience and Gilgeous-Alexander’s brilliance continue to push their extraordinary season to new heights.