Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 28 points, Thunder beat Suns 99-83 in NBA Cup

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, drives past Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn, left, during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

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Phoenix Suns forward Josh Okogie, right, grabs a rebound over Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams, left, during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell, right, drives past Phoenix Suns guard Tyus Jones, left, during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort shoots during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) tries to get to a rebound before Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, right, tries to steal the ball from Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic, left, during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

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Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault gives instructions during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) shoots over Phoenix Suns forward Royce O’Neale (00) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dillon Jones, right, blocks a shot by Phoenix Suns forward Josh Okogie, left, during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace shoots during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell, right, shoots over Phoenix Suns center Oso Ighodaro, left, during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

By TIM WILLERT

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the short-handed Phoenix Suns 99-83 on Friday night in an NBA Cup game.

Lu Dort had 15 points and nine rebounds, Jalen Williams added 14 points and eight rebounds and Isaiah Joe scored 11 points to help Oklahoma City improve to 11-2.

Oklahoma City led by 25 points in the second half en route to its third straight victory without injured center Chet Holmgren.

Josh Okogie had 15 points and nine rebounds for Phoenix, which played again without Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Grayson Allen.

Devin Booker added 12 points as the Suns dropped to 9-4. He missed his first six shots and finished 2 of 10 from the field.

Holmgren will miss at least eight weeks with a pelvic fracture after a hard fall during Sunday’s loss to Golden State.

Key moment

Oklahoma City led by 18 points, 43-25, midway through second quarter but Phoenix scored 11 of the next 13 to cut it to 45-36. That was close as the Suns would get.

Key stat

Oklahoma City outrebounded Phoenix 53-50.

Up next

The Suns are at Minnesota on Sunday, while the Thunder host Dallas on Sunday night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba