Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores career-high 54 in Thunder's 123-114 win over Jazz

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 54 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Utah Jazz 123-114 on Wednesday night.

Gilgeous-Alexander made 17 of 35 field goals and 17 of 18 free throws to surpass his previous career best of 45 points. He also had eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Jalen Williams added 25 points for the Thunder (36-7), who are tied with Cleveland for the league's best record.

John Collins had 22 points and 12 rebounds, Collin Sexton had 18 points and nine assists, and Walker Kessler had 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Jazz, who lost their fourth straight.

Utah (10-32), the worst team in the Western Conference, hung tough throughout.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 23 points in the first half to help Oklahoma City take a 57-55 lead at the break. He scored 18 points in the third quarter as the Thunder took a 95-89 lead.

Gilgeous-Alexander took a break to start the final quarter, and the Thunder led 102-99 when he checked back in. He hit a 3-pointer that gave the Thunder a 115-106 lead and secured his career night.

Jazz: Utah did a lot of things right, including scoring 31 second-chance points off 23 offensive rebounds. The Jazz simply ran into one of the best players and teams in the league.

Thunder: Oklahoma City still was missing injured center Isaiah Hartenstein, and Utah took advantage by winning the rebounding battle 52-39. The Thunder's lack of size helped the Jazz keep it close.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored his 50th point on a pullup jumper over Lauri Markkanen with 1:28 to go that gave the Thunder a 119-110 lead.

Oklahoma City overcame its lack of size by scoring 39 points off Utah's 27 turnovers.

The Jazz visit Memphis on Saturday. The Thunder host Dallas on Thursday.

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Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton, left, drives past Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, middle, tries to keep the ball away from Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton, left, and forward Drew Eubanks, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20 tries to block a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

Utah Jazz forward John Collins, left, pushes past Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, drives past Utah Jazz guard Svi Mykhailiuk, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots over Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah students in as early as kindergarten would be required to learn about firearm safety in the classroom under a bill that passed the state House with overwhelming support Friday.

The Republican-controlled chamber approved the measure in a 59-10 vote and sent it to the Senate, despite concerns from some gun violence prevention advocates that it places an undue burden on children.

Under the proposal, public school students would receive mandatory instruction throughout their K-12 years on how to respond if they encounter a gun. The lessons, which could be presented in a video or by an instructor displaying an actual firearm, would demonstrate best practices for safely handling and storing a gun to prevent accidents.

Elementary age children would learn about gun safety on at least three occasions by the time they reach sixth grade, with the possibility for that instruction to begin in kindergarten, when kids are around five years old.

The bill’s Republican sponsor, Rep. Rex Shipp of Cedar City, said it's aimed at preventing accidental shootings by and of young children. The lessons, he said, will be age-appropriate for each grade level, with younger students learning to avoid touching a gun and alert an adult immediately.

“A lot of times when they don't have any firearms in their homes or don't do any hunting and shooting, then these kids are not taught what to do when they come in contact with a firearm,” Shipp said.

One other state, Tennessee, has a law on the books requiring firearm safety training in public schools, but it lets education officials determine in which grade they think it's appropriate for students to start receiving that instruction. The lessons, set to begin next school year, will be annual and cannot include live firearms or ammunition.

A Utah statute already allows firearm safety to be taught in schools, but Shipp said teachers don't currently do so. His bill makes it mandatory but allows parents to opt their kids out of the instruction.

If it passes the similarly Republican-led Senate and is signed into law, the lessons would begin next school year.

The effort comes a year after Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill funding tactical training for teachers who want to defend their classrooms with guns. Republican sponsors said it was aimed at incentivizing teachers to carry firearms in schools to protect students. Opponents worried it would increase the likelihood that a student could gain access to a gun.

Gun violence prevention advocates have applauded Utah Republicans this year for growing gun safety education programs, but some argue those lessons should only be aimed at adults.

The proposal unfairly places the responsibility of gun safety on children rather than their parents, said Barbara Gentry of the Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah.

“Guns and gun safety are the responsibility of the adult gun owner, not school children," Gentry said. "We support schools sending home materials to parents outlining the importance of safe storage in keeping our families and schools safe from gun violence."

Jaden Christensen, a volunteer with the Utah chapter of Moms Demand Action, said lawmakers should instead look to grow programs that teach parents the importance of keeping firearms away from children.

“The burden should always be on adults,” Christensen said.

FILE - Students walk into Liberty Elementary School during the first day of class in Murray, Utah, Aug. 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)