Thunder Crush Suns, Spurs Stun Lakers in NBA Cup Quarterfinals

Last night’s Western Conference quarterfinals featured big games and big blow outs. Let’s take a look!

Thunder 138, Suns 89 (Thunder 24–1; Suns 14–11)

The Oklahoma City Thunder were nearly perfect in a 138–89 blowout win over the Phoenix Suns. With the win, OKC improved to 24–1 and tied the NBA record for the best 25-game start to a season. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 28 points and 8 assists. He scored from everywhere on the floor and controlled the game’s tempo. Chet Holmgren added 24 points and 8 rebounds, blocking shots and knocking down jumpers. Jalen Williams chipped in 15 points, giving OKC another steady scoring option. 

The Thunder’s shooting was amazing. They hit 22 three-pointers and shot over 59% from the field. Their defense was just as strong, forcing the Suns into 21 turnovers and turning those mistakes into easy points. 

The Suns had a rough night. With Devin Booker still out because of a groin injury, the offense never clicked. Dillon Brooks led Phoenix with 16 points, but he made only 4 of 16 shots. The Suns shot just 39.3% overall and finished with their worst loss in franchise history, falling to 14–11. 

Spurs 132, Lakers 119 (Spurs 17–6; Lakers 16–7)

The night’s second game was much closer, but the San Antonio Spurs closed strong to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 132–119 and move to 17–6.

Stephon Castle was the star. He scored 30 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and handed out 6 assists, doing a little bit of everything in just his second game back from injury. De’Aaron Fox added 20 points, and Keldon Johnson contributed 17 points and 8 rebounds as the Spurs’ guards and wings attacked the rim all night. 

The Spurs were missing Victor Wembanyama, who sat out again with a calf injury, but their young backcourt stepped up. 

The Lakers, now 16–7, got big numbers from their stars. Luka Dončić finished with 35 points and 8 assists, hitting tough shots to keep LA in the game. Marcus Smart scored 26 points, and LeBron James, back in the lineup, posted a 19-point, 15-rebound double-double. Austin Reaves added 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. 

Even with that production, the Lakers couldn’t get key stops late. A deep three by Castle in the final two minutes helped seal the win and send San Antonio into a semifinal showdown with the Thunder.