lucky time NBA Cup: Thunder pummel turnover-plagued Jazz

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) goes up for a dunk in front of Utah Jazz guard Svi Mykhailiuk (19) during the second quarter of an NBA Cup game at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Jalen Williams scored 28 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander netted 26 to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 133-106 home win over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday in an NBA Cup game.

The Thunder finished 3-1 and in first place in West B Group thanks to a head-to-head victory over the Phoenix Suns, who also went 3-1. Oklahoma City, which has won five of its past six, advances to a quarterfinal game next week.

The Jazz finished winless in the event and lost their fifth consecutive game overall.

READ: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder eliminate Lakers in NBA Cup

Utah lost despite shooting a season-high 54.3 percent from the floor, but it attempted 32 fewer shots than Oklahoma City.

The Thunder pulled away from Utah with relentless defensive pressure, forcing 29 turnovers — tying their high since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City held a 45-10 edge in points off turnovers and tied a season high with 18 steals.

Oklahoma City came into the game leading the league in turnovers forced, while Utah turned the ball over more than any other team in the NBA.

READ: Spurs fend off hard-charging Thunder for first NBA Cup win

Utah got off to a hot shooting start, making 7 of its first 11 shots to jump to a nine-point lead midway through the first quarter.

But even then, Oklahoma City was forcing the Jazz into turnovers.

Then the Thunder reeled off a 22-6 run to close the quarter and take control with a 32-25 lead.

The first quarter ended with a steal by Aaron Wiggins steal and three consecutive offensive rebounds by Oklahoma City before Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a layup.

That run expanded to 28-6 early in the second quarter, and Utah didn’t pull closer than six again.

By the time the Thunder went into halftime with a 12-point lead, they had forced 19 turnovers.

Oklahoma City then blew the game open in the third, going 16 of 20 from the field and scoring 11 of their 40 third-quarter points off Utah turnovers to lead by as many as 33 points.

Cason Wallace was the only Oklahoma City starter to play in the fourth quarter, after the Thunder took a 27-point lead into the final frame.

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Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton scored 17 points each to lead six Jazz players in double digits. Kessler also had 11 rebounds. –Field Level Medialucky time

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