Thunder coach Mark Daigneault sings the praises of superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) after their win against the Clippers.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 45 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Los Angeles Clippers 134-128 in their first game this season without Chet Holmgren.

The Oklahoma City Thunder may be shorthanded along the frontline, but they are a team with incredible depth — and they have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He went off for a career-high 45 points plus nine assists to lift the Thunder past the visiting Clippers, 134-128.

The Oklahoma City Thunder survived the battle of attrition against the depleted New Orleans Pelicans with a 106-88 win. OKC has won both games in its small-ball era since Chet Holmgren suffered a hip fracture.

Jalen Williams scored 31 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 29 and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans 106-88 on Wednesday night. The victory was the second straight for the Thunder without Chet Holmgren.

The red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder face off against the struggling New Orleans Pelicans tonight. While both teams are missing key players, the Pelicans are far more severely shorthanded. New Orleans is on a five-game losing streak and in desperate need of a win.