Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder won their franchise-record 13th consecutive regular-season game, 116-98 over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.

The Thunder trailed by 16 in the first half before pulling within 52-48 at halftime. Shaking off a cold shooting first half, the Thunder exploded for 42 third-quarter points and an 18-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Gilgeous-Alexander also had eight assists for the Thunder, who are 28-5 and have won 17 of their last 18 regular-season games. He did not play in the fourth quarter.

Jalen Williams scored 18 points and Isaiah Hartenstein added 11 points and nine rebounds for Oklahoma City.

Amir Coffey led the Clippers with 26 points.

After shooting just 31% in the first half, the Thunder wound up at an even 50% for the game and added to their league-leading steal total with 11 takeaways.

Williams hit a runner at the halftime buzzer to cut the Clippers' lead to four, then scored the first six points of the second half to jumpstart a 23-5 run that put the Thunder in control.

The work on both ends never stops pic.twitter.com/uGBnNYHPAB
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 3, 2025

Tatum leads Celtics past Timberwolves

Jayson Tatum had 33 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and the Boston Celtics beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 118-115.

Derrick White scored 26 points for Boston, while Sam Hauser - filling in for the injured Jaylen Brown - hit five 3-pointers and scored 15 points.

Julius Randle led Minnesota with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Naz Reid added 20 points off the bench, while Jaden McDaniels had 19 points and eight boards.

The Timberwolves trailed by eight with two minutes to play, but they had a chance to send it into overtime. However, Anthony Edwards' 3-pointer fell short at the buzzer.

With the Celtics leading 46-45 midway through the second quarter, Tatum hit the second of two free throws, then drained 3-pointers on Boston's next two possessions. That was part of a 16-6 run to close the second quarter, sending the Celtics into the locker room with a 62-51 lead.

Boston committed just four turnovers while the Timberwolves turned it over 16 times on the night.

Superstars shine the brightest

JT is tonight's @Gatorade Player of the Game pic.twitter.com/SvhkODmUmE
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 3, 2025

James lifts Lakers with Davis sidelined

LeBron James scored 38 points, Max Christie had a career-high 28 and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame Anthony Davis' absence for a 114-106 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

James hit a season-high seven 3-pointers and Christie added five for the Lakers, who have won six of eight. Austin Reaves contributed 15 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds as Los Angeles hung on to beat Portland for the fifth straight time.

Davis sat out for only the second time this season to rest his sprained left ankle, which the star big man hurt on Christmas.

Anfernee Simons scored 11 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter for the Blazers, who have lost four of six. Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija added 19 points apiece.

Portland trailed 99-86 with 6:13 to play but closed the gap with a 14-4 run. James and Christie combined for 11 points down the stretch, capped by James' seventh 3 with 59 seconds left.

That's game. #LakersWin pic.twitter.com/kKGj3fw0I2
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 3, 2025