MVP Shai helps Thunder keep their perfect run

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered another dominant performance, as defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder remained perfect in the young National Basketball Association (NBA) season with a 127-108 home victory over the Washington Wizards on Oct 30.

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Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Finals MVP, scored 31 points with three rebounds and seven assists.

He then sat out the fourth quarter as the Thunder polished off their sixth straight win.

Two days after they clawed back to beat the Sacramento Kings, the Thunder took charge early, building a 59-49 halftime lead and never trailing in the second half.

Isaiah Joe and Ajay Mitchell added 20 points each off the bench for Oklahoma City, who took advantage of 22 Wizards turnovers.

The Thunder were again without injured Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, and they have been rocked this week by the news that 20-year-old guard Nikola Topic is undergoing treatment for testicular cancer.

But the season debut of Joe, who missed the first five games with a bruised knee, was a welcome jolt of on-court energy.

"He hit the ground running," coach Mark Daigneault said.