Last year’s Regular Season MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showed flashes of brilliance in the NBA preseason for the OKC Thunder.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 23 points in the OKC Thunder’s 116-112 win over the Milwaukee Bucks for their third win in preseason action at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time).
Gilgeous-Alexander helped the Thunder bounce back from a flat third quarter to take the victory over Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.
Heading into the fourth, the Bucks were ahead, 90-87, after a third quarter where they outscored OKC by 11 points, 25-14.
But in the fourth, Malevy Leons scored all his six points in a crucial stretch late in the fourth with back-to-back triples to give OKC the 109-105 lead with 4:29 ticks remaining in the ball game to swing momentum to the Thunder.
Despite the Bucks getting within two, 112-114, with 24 ticks left, Chris Youngblood drilled two clutch free throws to keep the home team at bay.
Elsewhere, the Houston Rockets edged the New Orleans Pelicans, 130-128, at the Legacy Arena.
Aaron Holiday drilled the go-ahead basket with two seconds left on the clock to arrive at the final score and lift the rockets to 3-0 in the preseason.
Jabari Smith Jr. led the cavalry with 26 points, five rebounds, and one assist.
Cavs get first win
Over in Ohio, the Cleveland Cavaliers were finally able to get on the board in preseason with a victory over the Detroit Pistons, 118-100, at the Rocket Arena.
Donovan Mitchell had 17 points, two rebounds, three assists, and three steals to propel his team.
Five other Cavs players also had twin-digit scoring with Jarrett Allen also having an all-around game with 15 points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two blocks.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.