PHOENIX (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points in a brilliant shooting performance, Ajay Mitchell added 15 in place of the injured Jalen Williams and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Phoenix Suns 121-109 on Saturday to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference first-round series.
Gilgeous-Alexander — the league's reigning MVP — hit 15 of 18 shots on a variety of tough looks, frustrating a Suns defense that actually played decently for much of the game. Alex Caruso added 13 points off the bench while Chet Holmgren had 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
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Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) tries to drive to the basket between Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) and Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) during the first half of Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) scores against Phoenix Suns forward Haywood Highsmith (19) during the first half of Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green celebrates a 3-pointer after being fouled during the first half of Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) tries to get off a shot against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso, center, and Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) during the first half of Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander celebrates a 3-pointer against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The defending champion Thunder will go for the sweep in Game 4 on Monday in Phoenix.
Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 33 points on 11-of-21 shooting while Jalen Green added 26.
Oklahoma City took an 87-79 lead after three quarters and never trailed in the fourth. Gilegous-Alexander hit a difficult fallaway 19-foot jumper to put the Thunder up 102-87 with about five minutes left, deflating the Suns crowd and pretty much ending any hope for a comeback.
The Thunder were leading 69-60 early in the third quarter when Suns guard Devin Booker hurt his left ankle on a drive to the basket. He stayed on the floor for a few seconds in obvious pain before getting up and hobbling back to the locker room.
The five-time All-Star returned a few minutes later to huge cheers from the home crowd, making a short baseline jumper and a 3-pointer to cut the Thunder's lead to 75-69.
Oklahoma City scored the next six points to turn back the rally. Booker finished with 16 points and seven assists.
The Suns took an early 24-15 lead but the Thunder erased the deficit in a hurry, hitting four 3-pointers during a 16-3 run. The game was tight throughout the rest of the first half with Oklahoma City surging ahead late in the second quarter for a 62-53 lead.
Gilgeous-Alexander made all seven of his shots before the break to lead the Thunder with 17 points. Brooks scored 13 for the Suns.
The Thunder were without Williams, the high-scoring guard who hurt his left hamstring in Game 2. Mitchell started in his place and shot just 5 of 20 from the field, but added six rebounds and two assists.
The Suns were without center Mark Williams (foot) and guard Jordan Goodwin (calf). Grayson Allen returned from a hamstring injury and scored seven points in 17 minutes.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) tries to drive to the basket between Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) and Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) during the first half of Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) scores against Phoenix Suns forward Haywood Highsmith (19) during the first half of Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green celebrates a 3-pointer after being fouled during the first half of Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) tries to get off a shot against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso, center, and Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) during the first half of Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander celebrates a 3-pointer against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan went big in his third NFL draft.
The Panthers used their first two picks on mammoth linemen who tip the scales at a combined 638 pounds, then added a 6-foot-4 receiver who can stretch the field to beef up the defending NFC South champions' roster.
Morgan, who took wide receivers in the first round the previous two years, selected 6-7, 315-pound offensive tackle Monroe Freeling from Georgia at No. 19 overall, giving the Panthers more options at a position with some question marks.
Freeling could start right away at left tackle with Ickey Ekwonu, the team's No. 6 overall pick in 2022, likely to miss a portion of the season after suffering a torn patellar tendon in Carolina's 31-28 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round of the playoffs. The Panthers added veteran Rasheed Walker as a stopgap in free agency, but it seems unlikely they would keep a first-round pick on the bench for long.
As for the long term, it's unclear what Carolina will do once Ekwonu returns.
Freeling spent the better part of his career at left tackle, but he could move to right tackle as an eventual replacement for Taylor Moton, who has started 145 games. The 31-year-old Moton is under contract through 2027.
Freeling played both positions at Georgia.
Morgan went for more size in the second round, trading up to get 6-3, 318-pound Texas Tech nose tackle Lee Hunter, who projects as a space-eater in the middle of coordinator Ejiro Evero's 3-4 defense.
“We believe in building it up front and winning the line of scrimmage,” Morgan said. “If you can win the line of scrimmage on both sides you have a chance to win every single game. So yeah, that is definitely a point of emphasis.”
In the third round, the Panthers added 6-4 wideout Chris Brazzell II from Tennessee, giving them some big-play potential to go along with 2025 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan (6-5), Jalen Coker (6-3) and Xavier Legette (6-3).
Brazzell ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds at the NFL scouting combine, and the Panthers envision him as a deep threat for quarterback Bryce Young.
Brazzell grew up in Midland, Texas, but he said the Panthers have been his favorite team since the third grade. He didn't waste a breath rattling off the recent history of players who helped Carolina reach two Super Bowls.
His fandom originated when he played quarterback for a youth team called the Greenville Panthers.
“Cam Newton was my favorite player of all time,” Brazzell said. “I kind of just rolled with it. Blue is my favorite color, so I literally just rolled with the Panthers and I never looked back.”
Brazzell said he was hoping the Panthers would pick him after he met with the coaching staff before the draft at Bank of America Stadium.
The Panthers heard over and over again from Hunter about how he liked to play with a “violent” nature. That resonated with Morgan and coach Dave Canales.
The nose tackle's style of play is one of the reasons Carolina moved up in the second round to get him.
“When you’re an interior defensive lineman, it all starts with violence,” Canales said. “That’s one thing that he kind of characterized himself. What’s your play style? Violence. And repeatedly said violence. Just the way that he’s disruptive and explosive at the line of scrimmage.”
One of the funnier moments during the Panthers' draft process came after Freeling's introductory news conference on Friday, which his entire family attended.
Freeling stands about five inches taller than his three brothers, and that has led to family tales about how he got so big.
“We like to say he had a twin in the womb, and he ate him,” joked his brother, Grayson Freeling. “That’s just what we say. Because, I mean, look at me, I’m the youngest and the shortest. I got the short end of the stick, literally. ... But no, he’s an anomaly. He’s a freak athlete. And he’s the hardest worker I know.”
Morgan traded down twice on Saturday before he eventually selected Texas A&M cornerback Will Lee III late in the fourth round.
Those moves allowed Carolina to pick up two extra late-round picks.
The Panthers closed out the draft by checking off a few areas of need, adding Kansas State center Sam Hecht and Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley in the fifth round. Morgan, who played linebacker at Miami before being drafted by Carolina, closed out the draft by taking Hurricanes linebacker Jackson Kuwatch in the seventh round.
Morgan said the players drafted in later rounds will likely need to carve out a niche on special teams to make the 53-man roster.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
Monroe Freeling, selected in the first round of the NFL football draft by the Carolina Panthers, takes part in a welcome ceremony, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Monroe Freeling, selected in the first round of the NFL football draft by the Carolina Panthers, takes part in a welcome ceremony, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Carolina Panthers first-round draft pick Monroe Freeling holds up his jersey during an NFL football news conference, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Carolina Panthers first-round draft pick Monroe Freeling speaks during an NFL football news conference, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Monroe Freeling, selected in the first round of the NFL football draft by the Carolina Panthers, takes part in a welcome ceremony, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
