Thunder clinch 13th straight victory

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder staved off a ferocious Golden State Warriors fightback to bag their 13th consecutive win on Tuesday, pulling away, 124-112, in their heavyweight National Basketball Association (NBA) showdown.

Reigning Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points to steer the reigning NBA champions to a win that leaves them on 21-1 at the top of the Western Conference standings.

Oklahoma City had looked poised to deliver a crushing win after romping into a 63-44 half-time lead at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

The Warriors were missing the injured Stephen Curry while Jimmy Butler limped out at half-time.

But Golden State exploded for 44 points in the third quarter to turn the game on its head, and even edged into the lead in the fourth quarter.

Oklahoma regrouped in the final period and Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren combined for 16 points down the stretch to get the Thunder over the line.

“Games are gonna look different every night,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “(Sometimes) we’re gonna win big, sometimes we’re gonna have to gut something out. But regardless we stayed in the moment and did whatever it took to get the W (win).”