Thunder Stay Hot, Warriors Stumble Without Steph in 124-112 Loss
The Golden State Warriors found themselves outgunned and outpaced Monday night at Chase Center, falling 124-112 to a surging Oklahoma City Thunder squad that’s showing no signs of slowing down. Missing their franchise cornerstone, Stephen Curry, for a second straight game due to a leg injury, the Warriors struggled to keep up with a Thunder team that’s now riding a 13-game win streak and sitting at a jaw-dropping 21-1 on the season.
Let’s start with the obvious: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is playing like a man on a mission-and he just might be the early front-runner in the MVP conversation. Shai poured in 38 points on a hyper-efficient 13-of-21 shooting, knocked down five of six from deep, added four assists, and-get this-didn’t commit a single turnover. That’s not just clean basketball; that’s elite-level decision-making under pressure.
This wasn’t a one-off either. Monday’s performance marked the 15th time in the last four seasons that Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 30 or more points with zero turnovers-the most among all active players.
For context, the next closest are Tyrese Maxey and Trey Murphy, each with eight such games. That’s the kind of stat that shows just how rare Shai’s blend of scoring and control really is.
But he wasn’t alone. Rookie big man Chet Holmgren continues to look like the real deal, adding 21 points and eight rebounds, while Jalen Williams chipped in 22 points and six assists.
Oklahoma City’s depth was on full display, with Ajay Mitchell scoring 10 and Aaron Wiggins contributing 11 off the bench. This team isn’t just winning-they’re doing it with balance, poise, and a clear identity.
On the other side, Golden State looked like a team still trying to figure out who they are without Curry. The offense lacked its usual rhythm, and defensively, they had few answers for the Thunder’s relentless pace and efficient shot-making.
Jimmy Butler, in limited minutes, had just six points and three rebounds in 15 minutes of action. Draymond Green brought some fight with 15 points, and Brandin Podziemski and Pat Spencer each added 17, but it wasn’t enough to match the firepower coming from the other bench. Gary Payton and Buddy Hield added 13 apiece off the bench, while Seth Curry, making his debut in a Warriors uniform, showed flashes with 14 points in 17 minutes.
Still, without Steph orchestrating the offense, the Warriors lacked that extra gear-the one that turns close games into wins and keeps opponents on their heels. At 11-11, they’re stuck in neutral while the Thunder are flying past in the fast lane.
Golden State will try to regroup before facing the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, while the Thunder look to keep their streak alive Friday against the Dallas Mavericks. And if Shai keeps playing like this? The MVP chants won’t just be coming from Oklahoma City-they’ll be echoing across the league.