SGA scores 51; Thunder win No. 50

(UPDATE) OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 51 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Houston Rockets, 137-128, on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) for their 50th win of the season.

Gilgeous-Alexander reached 50 points for the fourth time this season, all in the past seven weeks. The NBA's scoring leader finished with at least 40 for the ninth time in 2024-2025. He made 18 of 30 field goals, went 5 of 9 on three-pointers and hit all 10 of his free throws.

Jalen Williams added 24 points for the Thunder (50-11).

Cam Whitmore matched career highs with 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Reed Sheppard added a career-best 25 points for the Rockets.

Houston was without injured Alperen Sengun (lower back soreness), Amen Thompson (right shoulder), Dillon Brooks (bruised right knee), Fred VanVleet (sprained right ankle) and Tari Eason (lower left leg).

Houston's largest lead was nine points early in the second quarter, but the Thunder rallied to lead 63-62 at halftime behind 28 points from Gilgeous-Alexander.

Oklahoma City took charge in the third. Gilgeous-Alexander was up to 45 points by the end of the period, and the Thunder led 102-89 heading into the fourth.

Houston made a final push, closing the gap to six before the Thunder regained control. Lu Dort made back-to-back three-pointers 29 seconds apart, extending Oklahoma City's lead to 120-106.

Gilgeous-Alexander reached 50 points on a putback with just under three minutes left to give Oklahoma City a 132-120 advantage.

Hawks 132, Grizzlies 130

In Memphis, Caris LeVert made a layup as time expired, finishing with 25 points as the Atlanta Hawks rallied to beat the Memphis Grizzlies.

Desmond Bane had his first career triple-double for Memphis, but Dyson Daniels stole the ball from him with 3.8 seconds remaining. LeVert got the ball and streaked down the floor for a layup that beat the horn, confirmed after an officials' review.

LeVert had 16 points in the fourth quarter.

Zaccharie Risacher scored 27 points for Atlanta. Onyeka Okongwu had 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Trae Young had 12 points and 15 assists.

Bane led Memphis with a season-high 35 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Luke Kennard had 17 points.

The Grizzlies, already with Santi Aldama and Ja Morant sitting out with injuries, lost Jaren Jackson Jr. less than two minutes into the game when he went down with a left ankle injury after trying to block a shot by Daniels.

Atlanta scored the final seven points over 2:37 for the victory.

Heat 106, Wizards 90

In Miami, Bam Adebayo had 19 points and 15 rebounds to break Miami's franchise record for double-doubles, and the Heat cruised to a 106-90 victory over the NBA-worst Washington Wizards.

Adebayo, in his eighth season with Miami, reached the milestone with a rebound late in the second quarter. He has 222 double-doubles, one more than Rony Seikaly had in six seasons from 1988-1994.

Wizards rookie Kyshawn George left with a jaw injury in the fourth quarter after taking an inadvertent elbow from Adebayo.

Duncan Robinson scored 17 points, and Tyler Herro and Pelle Larsson had 16 apiece for the Heat, who have won three of four. Miami is seventh in the Eastern Conference and is seeking to make a push for a guaranteed playoff spot.

Khris Middleton led Washington with 16 points and Bub Carrington scored 14.

Warriors 119, Hornets 101

In Charlotte, Stephen Curry had 21 points and 10 assists in his annual homecoming game, and the Golden State Warriors pulled away in the second half to defeat the Charlotte Hornets for their sixth win in seven games.

Curry, who was raised in Charlotte and played at nearby Davidson College, finished 6 of 14 from the field and made three three-pointers.

The Hornets appeared determined not to let Curry beat them in the first half and repeatedly blitzed the 11-time All-Star with double-teams. Curry responded by finding open teammates for easy buckets and had nine assists at halftime.

Buddy Hield scored 22 points, and Brandin Podziemski added 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Warriors, who were coming off a 126-119 loss at Philadelphia on Saturday.

Draymond Green had 16 points and 13 rebounds.

The struggles continued for the Hornets, who've lost 10 of 11 and seven straight. Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 35 points, and LaMelo Ball added 25 points and nine rebounds.