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Chet Holmgren scored 31 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 and the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder pulled away in the second half for a 117-100 victory over the short-handed Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.
The Thunder improved to 3-0 on the season, getting off to another quick start after winning seven straight at the start a year ago on the way to a title.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the league’s MVP last season. had another big night coming off a career-best 55-point performance in a 141-135 victory at Indiana on Thursday night.
Holmgren was 6 of 8 from beyond the 3-point stripe and grabbed 12 rebounds. Gilgeous-Alexander was nearly perfect on shots inside the arc, making 10 of 11.
After going to double-overtime to win its first two games, the Thunder didn’t need any extra time to finish off an Atlanta squad that was missing three starters.
Kristaps Porzingis (flu-like symptoms) and Zaccharie Risacher (right ankle sprain) each missed their second straight game. They were joined on the bench by Jalen Johnson, who sprained his right ankle in a victory at Orlando the previous night.
The game was tight through most of the first half, though Oklahoma City never trailed. The Thunder began to pull away from a 60-55 halftime lead by scoring the first eight points of the third quarter.
Gilgeous-Alexander knocked down a pull=up jumper and converted a three-point play before Holmgren connected from long range.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 17 points. Atlanta has lost its first two home games of the season by a combined 37 points, sandwiched around the road victory over the Magic.
Oklahoma City point guard Cason Wallace got a chance to go against his older brother, Keaton, a backup guard for the Hawks. Cason was held to three points, while Keaton Wallace managed five.
The Hawks travel to Chicago to face the Bulls on Monday in the start of a four-game road trip.
