West-leading Thunder outlast Timberwolves 130-123 behind 37 points from Gilgeous-Alexander

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 37 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals to help the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 130-123 on Sunday night to open a home-and-home set.

The teams will play again Monday night in Oklahoma City.

Chet Holmgren added 19 points for the Thunder, who shot a season-best 54% (19 for 35) from 3-point range.

Gilgeous-Alexander re-entered the game with eight minutes left and sparked an 18-4 spurt over the next 5:16 after his cousin, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, hit a 3-pointer that put the Timberwolves up 110-105.

Anthony Edwards had 29 points and 10 rebounds for the short-handed Timberwolves (31-27), who wiped out a 19-point deficit in the second quarter before losing for the fourth time in five games.

The Thunder (46-10) have lost only once in the last 25 days, when they fell in Minnesota on Feb. 13. Oklahoma City has a 9 1/2-game lead over Denver and Memphis for the Western Conference lead.

Thunder: Aaron Wiggins and Alex Caruso were vital off the bench. Caruso hit three 3-pointers and had steal to set up a 3-pointer by Gilgeous-Alexander over a 2:47 stretch midway through the fourth quarter.

Timberwolves: Missing the starting frontcourt, Rudy Gobert (back) and Julius Randle (groin), the Timberwolves lost Jaylen Clark in the third quarter when he hit the back of his head on the floor after an off-balance layup. Clark, who made his second career start, was ruled out with neck pain.

After the Thunder went up 52-33 by making 19 of their first 27 shots, the Timberwolves had a 25-4 run over a 6:07 stretch. With Holmgren on him at the top of the key, Edwards used a crossover dribble and a slight step-back for his first made 3-pointer of the game with 2:36 left in the second quarter.

The Timberwolves missed 11 of their first 12 attempts from 3-point range.

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

Oklahoma City Thunder guards Alex Caruso (9) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrate during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) works toward the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (00) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault yells during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) walks across the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) works toward the basket as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) gestures after making a 3-point shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrates after making a three-point shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) at Denver (13-3)

Sunday, 4:25 EST, CBS.

BetMGM NFL Odds: Broncos by 12 1/2.

Against the spread: Chargers 8-7-1; Broncos 6-9-1.

Series record: Broncos lead 72-58-1.

Last meeting: Chargers beat Broncos 23-20 on Sept. 21, 2025, in Inglewood, California.

Last week: Chargers lost to Texans 20-16; Broncos beat Chiefs 20-13.

Chargers offense: overall (12), rush (12), pass (15), scoring (T-16).

Chargers defense: overall (4), rush (9), pass (6), scoring (7).

Broncos offense: overall (9), rush (19), pass (9), scoring (14).

Broncos defense: overall (3), rush (2), pass (8), scoring (4).

Turnover differential: Chargers plus-4 ; Broncos minus-5.

QB Trey Lance is making his sixth career start and first for the Chargers. He's appeared in three games this season, completing 7 of 13 passes for 90 yards with no touchdowns, no interceptions and two sacks.

WR Courtland Sutton surpassed 1,000 yards last week, but he dropped a touchdown pass and caught just four of the 10 passes Bo Nix threw his way. Sutton has 73 receptions for 1,012 yards and seven TDs this season, a similar output to last year when he caught 81 passes for 1,081 yards and eight TDs.

The Chargers offensive line and backup QB versus Denver's dominant pass rush. The Broncos have had a franchise-record and NFL-best 64 sacks so far and are within striking distance of the NFL record of 72 set by the 1984 Chicago Bears, who had a dozen in their season finale that year.

Chargers: Coach Jim Harbaugh said he's sitting QB Justin Herbert (left hand) for the finale along with several other starters. Rookie RB Omarion Hampton (ankle) missed practice time this week as did CB Nikko Reed (hamstring) and OL Jamaree Salyer (hamstring). Harbaugh said he doesn't expect Salyer to play Sunday.

Broncos: LB Dre Greenlaw has been dealing with a hamstring injury and won't play in the finale. WR Pat Bryant (concussion), TE Nate Adkins (knee) and DL John Franklin-Meyers (hip) were limited in practice this week.

The Chargers have won all three games against Denver and Sean Payton with Jim Harbaugh as head coach. All three have been one-score games.

The Chargers clinched a playoff berth for the second straight season, the first time that's happened since they reached the postseason four consecutive times from 2006-09. ... The Bolts are coming off a 20-16 loss to Houston in which they were 2 of 5 in the red zone while the defense allowed a pair of rare long touchdown passes to open the game. K Cameron Dicker missed a field goal from inside 40 yards for the first time in his career and pulled an extra point wide for the first time this season. ... The Chargers are the only team that's unbeaten (5-0) in the AFC West this season. ... RB Omarion Hampton has a touchdown in three of his past four games. ... WR Quentin Johnston is coming off a 98-yard performance in Week 17. ... WR Keenan Allen had seven catches for 65 yards and a touchdown against Denver in Week 3. ... The Broncos were the first team to clinch a playoff spot and can earn the AFC's No. 1 overall seed with a win Sunday. The Broncos won the AFC West for the first time since 2015, ending the Kansas City Chiefs' nine-year reign atop the division. ... Broncos QB Bo Nix is tied for the second-most victories over the first two seasons at his position with 23. With a win Sunday, he'll tie Russell Wilson's NFL record of 24 wins in his first two seasons. ... Nix needs one TD pass to become the fourth QB in NFL history with at least 25 in each of his first two seasons. ... Nix is the third player ever, joining Herbert and Peyton Manning, with 3,500-plus passing yards and 25 or more TD passes in each of his first two NFL seasons. ... RB RJ Harvey leads rookies with a dozen TDs this season. He's scored a TD in five consecutive games. ... LB Nik Bonitto had two sacks in Week 3 against the Chargers.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden (86) celebrates his touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)