Overview
- Oklahoma City beat Phoenix 121-109 in Game 3 to go up 3-0 and now has a chance to finish the first-round series in Game 4 on the road.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander set a playoff career high with 42 points and added eight assists, reinforcing his role as the Thunder’s steady scorer.
- Head coach Mark Daigneault said the team asks players to lean into their own strengths within a shared identity, which he argues keeps lineups functional.
- With Jalen Williams out due to a hamstring issue, Ajay Mitchell started and scored 15 points on 5-of-20 shooting, and Daigneault praised his aggression over passivity.
- Alex Caruso and Jared McCain supplied key bench minutes, with Caruso stressing the need to fight the human urge to relax after wins.