NBA Cup Semifinals: Thunder And Spurs Advance After Quarterfinal Victories

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder with 28 points in a dominant 138-89 victory over the Phoenix Suns. This win in the NBA Cup quarterfinals ties their 25-game start record with the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors. Chet Holmgren contributed 24 points and eight rebounds, while Jalen Williams added 15 points. The Thunder will face the San Antonio Spurs in the semifinals on Saturday.

The Thunder's recent performance has been impressive, setting a franchise record with their 16th consecutive win. Their previous encounter with the Suns was a close 123-119 victory during NBA Cup group play on November 28. However, Phoenix's Devin Booker missed this game due to a strained right groin, impacting their performance. The Suns struggled offensively, shooting just 39.3% from the field and scoring a season-low point total.

Devin Booker had previously acknowledged Oklahoma City's strong defence after scoring 21 points against them. Despite his absence, Dillon Brooks led Phoenix with 16 points but struggled with accuracy, making only four of his 16 attempts. Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander extended his streak of scoring at least 20 points to 96 games, achieving this milestone with a breakaway dunk that put the Thunder ahead by a significant margin.

The San Antonio Spurs secured their place in the semifinals by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119 in another NBA Cup quarterfinal match. Stephon Castle scored an impressive 30 points, including 21 in the second half, while De'Aaron Fox added another 20 points for the Spurs. Keldon Johnson also contributed significantly with 17 points and eight rebounds.

Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 35 points, supported by LeBron James who had a near triple-double performance with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists. Despite reducing their deficit to eight points late in the fourth quarter, Los Angeles couldn't close the gap further. Marcus Smart scored a season-high of 26 points for the Lakers, hitting eight three-pointers.

The Spurs have been performing well recently, winning nine out of their last twelve games. They maintained control throughout most of their game against Los Angeles and are now set to challenge Oklahoma City in Las Vegas for a spot in the final four of the NBA Cup.

Both Oklahoma City and San Antonio have shown remarkable form leading up to their semifinal clash. The Thunder's defensive prowess and offensive consistency make them formidable opponents for any team they face next.