Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again took charge, pouring in 37 points and grabbing eight asissts. Chet Holmgren backed him up with 23 markers and eight boards

It was a gritty win for the Thunder as the visiting Suns refused to back down. Trailing by two with 14 seconds left, Collin Gillespie poked the ball away from Gilgeous-Alexander on the inbounds play, but Phoenix couldn’t secure possession. OKC got the ball back to the reigning MVP, and SGA iced the game with two clutch free throws.

Both teams traded haymakers throughout the fourth, highlighted by a flurry of threes midway through the quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander buried a three that Jordan Goodwin quickly answered. On the next trip, Cason Wallace hit one of his own, only for Royce O’Neale to respond from deep to trim the deficit to 112-111 with under three minutes remaining.

Phoenix still had a chance to tie it in the final 23 seconds, but Dillon Brooks’ corner triple missed its mark. Holmgren corralled the pivotal rebound and sank two freebies after getting fouled.

With the win, the defending champions topped West Group A with a perfect 4-0 slate in the group stage of the in-season tournament.