SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and seven assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the short-handed Golden State Warriors for a 131-94 win Friday night.
Stephen Curry sat out because of a left ankle sprain and backcourt mate Jimmy Butler became ill earlier in the day. Draymond Green rested, while Jonathan Kuminga missed the game with back soreness.
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Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos (15) is fouled by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) shoots a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) shoots while defended by Golden State Warriors center Trayce Jackson-Davis (32) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
That left Steve Kerr's starting lineup as Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Will Richard, Gui Santos and Quinten Post.
Kerr was optimistic Curry would play Saturday against the Jazz.
Gilgeous-Alexander shot 10 for 20 with three 3-pointers and converted all seven of his free throws for his seventh game in the last nine with 30 or more points — and now three straight. He had 38 points on 13-for-21 shooting with five 3-pointers in the last matchup against the Warriors.
Chet Holmgren contributed 15 points and a season-best 15 rebounds — two off his career high — as Oklahoma City (30-5) won a fourth straight following its first two-game skid of the season.
Richard had 13 points and five rebounds, Al Horford and Moody also scored 13 while Pat Spencer dished out 11 assists against the defending champion Thunder, who had lost their previous two road games but also won 124-112 at Golden State exactly a month earlier on Dec. 2.
Richard's 3-pointer with 7:19 left in the second quarter got Golden State within 38-36 before Oklahoma City answered with a 19-0 run to go ahead 64-45 at halftime.
The Warriors had won two straight, five of six and three in a row at home, where they are in a stretch with 10 of 11 at Chase Center.
Thunder: Visit Phoenix on Sunday.
Warriors: Host Utah on Saturday night to complete a back-to-back.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos (15) is fouled by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) shoots a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) shoots while defended by Golden State Warriors center Trayce Jackson-Davis (32) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
ROME (AP) — Elina Svitolina claimed a third Italian Open title on Saturday by beating Coco Gauff, who lost in the final in Rome for the second straight year.
In the men’s final on Sunday, home favorite Jannik Sinner will face Casper Ruud.
Svitolina took nearly three hours to prevail 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 and win her first WTA 1000 title since lifting the title in Rome in 2018. The Ukrainian also won in 2017.
“It’s very hard to believe that it’s been eight years when I had this trophy here and very, very, very pleased of course with the two weeks here," Svitolina said on court after her 20th career title.
“I told my coach that it would be nice before I finish my career to have a round number. So he told me that hopefully we’re going to get this this year. So, I’m very, very happy.”
Gauff, who was hoping to become the first American to win in Rome since 2016, lost to Jasmine Paolini last year but went on to win the French Open.
“It’s been a great two weeks ... and I definitely feel the momentum going into the French Open," she said. "A lot of lessons learned from this match.”
Gauff started brilliantly, breaking Svitolina and holding to love. She also had the chance to go 5-2 up but Svitolina fended off three break points and won four straight games to take the opener.
The third-ranked Gauff struggled on her serve throughout the second set but managed to take it to a tiebreak and level the match.
However, Svitolina dominated the decider and broke Gauff’s serve twice to leave her serving for the title. The seventh-ranked Svitolina sealed the result on her third match point with a volley at the net.
Sinner beat Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 when their rain-delayed semifinal resumed on Saturday and is one victory away from becoming only the second man after Novak Djokovic to win all nine Masters 1000 titles. Djokovic has won each Masters tournament at least twice.
The top-ranked Sinner led 4-2 in the third set when the match was suspended late Friday. The Italian finished off the match in 15 minutes on Saturday, sealing it on his third match point after Medvedev fended off two on his serve.
“It was a very different challenge and a tough challenge,” Sinner said. “Usually, during the night, I don’t struggle to sleep but this time it was not easy.
"You are in the third set, nearly done, but you still have to show up again and you never know what is happening. It is like the start of the match as there are nerves again. I am very happy with how I handled this situation and that I am back in the final.”
Earlier Friday on the red clay of the Foro Italico, Ruud routed home player Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-1.
Sinner is also attempting to become the first Italian man to raise the Rome trophy since Adriano Panatta in 1976. Panatta will present the trophy on Sunday, with Italian President Sergio Mattarella also slated to attend the men's final.
After winning the first set easily on Friday, Sinner appeared fatigued as Medvedev stepped up his game and started running him around the court with drop shots and groundstrokes to the corners.
After several points Sinner bent over in apparent exhaustion and leaned on his racket for support. Sinner had his right thigh treated by a trainer midway through the second set.
Sinner came back from a 3-0 deficit only to be broken again in the 12th game and concede the set to Medvedev.
A bad bounce helped Sinner break Medvedev early in the third and take control for good.
Sinner has won all four of his career meetings with Ruud without dropping a set — including a 6-0, 6-1 rout in the Rome quarterfinals last year.
“Jannik is chasing history,” Ruud said. “I have to be the guy to try to stop him, and it will not be easy playing here in his home country. ... Last year, he really (routed me) here on the same court, so of course I’m looking for revenge. But at the same time I realize that he’s an incredible player and a unique talent.”
Sinner lost last year’s final to Carlos Alcaraz, who is sidelined due to a right wrist injury. Paolini in 2025 became the first Italian woman to raise the trophy in 40 years.
Sinner hasn’t lost since Feb. 19 in the Qatar Open quarterfinals. He has won 28 straight matches and a record five successive Masters titles. He could become the second man to win all three Masters tournaments on clay — including Monte Carlo and Madrid — in the same season after Rafael Nadal in 2010.
After Rome for Sinner is the French Open, the only Grand Slam event he hasn’t won. The titleholder, Alcaraz, will also miss it.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
United States' Coco Gauff holds a trophy after playing against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in the women's final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Ukraine's Elina Svitolina kisses the trophy after winning against United States' Coco Gauff at the end of the women's final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
United States' Coco Gauff grimaces after missing a point as she plays against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina during their women's final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Ukraine's Elina Svitolina celebrates a winning point as she plays against United States' Coco Gauff during their women's final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
United States' Coco Gauff reacts after loosing against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina at the end of the women's final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Ukraine's Elina Svitolina celebrates after winning against United States' Coco Gauff at the end of the women's final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Italy's Jannik Sinner cheer with Daniil Medvedev of Russia after winning their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning against Daniil Medvedev of Russia during their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Daniil Medvedev of Russia returns a ball to Italy's Jannik Sinner during their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Italy's Jannik Sinner receives medical treatment during a medical timeout during the semifinal match against Daniil Medvedev of Russia, at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini))
Italy's Jannik Sinner returns a ball to Daniil Medvedev of Russia during their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning against Daniil Medvedev of Russia during their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
