Jalen Williams, sharpshooting Thunder demolish Suns
Jalen Williams scored 19 of his 28 points in the third quarter and the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the short-handed host Phoenix Suns for the second time this season in a 136-109 victory on Wednesday.
Reserve Isaiah Joe had 21 points, tying a season high with six 3-pointers, and Kenrich Williams added 15 points off the bench for the Thunder, who built a 29-point lead in the second quarter and led 103-66 late in the third.
Dillon Brooks scored 23 points and Royce O'Neale scored 12 on four 3-pointers for the Suns, who have lost four of six.
Williams, playing his second game after missing the previous 10 with a hamstring injury, was 11 of 12 from the field and had five assists and four rebounds.
He left the game after missing a driving layup with four minutes remaining in the third quarter and did not return.
The Thunder had seven players score in double figures and shot 58.4% from the field. They made 15 of 36 3-pointers.
Oklahoma City handed the Suns their worst loss in franchise history, 138-89, in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup on Dec. 10. The teams will meet again on the final day of the regular season in Oklahoma City.
The Suns played without leading scorer Devin Booker (ankle injury management), Jalen Green (hamstring injury management) and Grayson Allen (knee).
Oklahoma City is 2-2 without reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has missed the last four games with an abdominal injury and is to be reevaluated after the All-Star break.
The Thunder had 74 bench points, with Joe and Kenrich Williams leading the way. Jaren McCain and Aaron Wiggins had 12 points apiece and Jaylin Williams had 11.
Brooks was assessed his 16th technical foul of the season at 6:37 of the second quarter, triggering an automatic one-game suspension and a $5,000 fine. Each two additional technicals result in one-game suspension and fine.
The Thunder led 37-25 after the first quarter and went on an extended 31-12 surge in an eight-minute stretch of the second quarter to take a 73-44 lead. It was 75-52 at the half.
Joe made four 3-pointers in the second quarter and McCain had eight straight points including two 3-pointers in that run. McCain played his third game with the Thunder after being acquired from Philadelphia at the trade deadline.