Key Takeaways:
- Oklahoma City Thunder secured a 107-101 comeback win over the Sacramento Kings
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 31 points, including nine in the fourth quarter
- The Thunder extended their unbeaten run to 5-0, despite being hampered by key injuries
Match Analysis: Thunder Overcome Deficit Despite Absences
The Oklahoma City Thunder maintained their flawless start to the season on Tuesday night, coming from behind to defeat the Sacramento Kings 107-101 at the Paycom Center. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 31 points, helping Oklahoma City recover from a third-quarter slump and finish strongly against a resilient Kings side.
Despite converting just one of nine attempts from the floor during the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander found his form at a crucial time, scoring nine points and shooting four of six in the fourth quarter. This turnaround proved vital as the Thunder improved to 5-0, remaining one of only four unbeaten clubs in the league.
Never wavered 💪 pic.twitter.com/oraGwe5tkF
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) October 29, 2025
Key Player Performances
Supporting Gilgeous-Alexander, both Aaron Wiggins and Ajay Mitchell contributed 18 points each, reinforcing the Thunder’s attacking depth on a night when injuries forced personnel changes. Sacramento’s Zach LaVine posted 23 points, with DeMar DeRozan adding 19. Domantas Sabonis completed a double-double, collecting 10 points alongside 18 rebounds.
Former Thunder standout Russell Westbrook made his first start of the season for the Kings, recording 16 points and nine rebounds against his former club.
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Thunder | 31 | 9 | 4 |
| Aaron Wiggins | Thunder | 18 | 6 | 6 |
| Ajay Mitchell | Thunder | 18 | 0 | 1 |
| Zach LaVine | Kings | 23 | 4 | 3 |
| DeMar DeRozan | Kings | 19 | 1 | 3 |
| Domantas Sabonis | Kings | 10 | 18 | 3 |
| Russell Westbrook | Kings | 16 | 9 | 4 |
Game Flow and Key Moments
Despite their strong start to the season, Oklahoma City was considerably short-handed for this fixture. Chet Holmgren, the squad’s second-highest scorer, was unavailable due to lower back soreness. The Thunder were already without two regular contributors: 2025 All-Star Jalen Williams, sidelined following right wrist surgery, and sharpshooter Isaiah Joe, who is nursing a bruised left knee.
Sacramento capitalised early, leading 62-58 at the interval after hitting a remarkable 56.1% from the field. After the Thunder temporarily went ahead 71-70 following a pair of Lu Dort free throws in the third, the Kings responded with an 11-0 run to establish momentum, holding an 83-80 advantage going into the final period.
The game’s decisive moments arrived in the closing minutes when Lu Dort’s three-pointer handed Oklahoma City a 99-97 lead. Alex Caruso then extended the advantage with a three-pointer to make it 104-99 with 46 seconds on the clock. Gilgeous-Alexander followed shortly after, draining a stepback three-pointer with 16 seconds left to secure a six-point cushion and ultimately the win.
Looking Ahead
- Sacramento will visit the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night
- Oklahoma City hosts the Washington Wizards on Thursday night
