NBA Game Notes (March 19, 2023)

Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on March 19, 2023.

Shootout at the OKC Corral

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a team-high 40 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied to defeat the Phoenix Suns 124-120. The Thunder have won seven of their last nine games to move into eighth place in the Western Conference standings, just a game behind the sixth-place Dallas Mavericks.

Gilgeous-Alexander shot 12-24 from the field and made 16 of his 19 free throws. It’s the 20th time he’s made at least 10 field goals and 10 free throws in a game this season, the second-most such games in the NBA (Joel Embiid, 21). The only player in franchise history to record more such games in a single season is Kevin Durant with 21 in 2009-10.

Gilgeous-Alexander has made at least 15 free throws in a league-leading nine games this season. He has tied Russell Westbrook (2016-17) for the most such games in a single season in franchise history.

Backcourt mate Josh Giddey tallied 16 points, six rebounds, and six assists, shooting 7-13 from the field. Giddey has recorded at least 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists in 38 games this season, the fifth-most such games in the NBA.

The Suns’ Devin Booker scored a game-high 46 points in the loss. Booker shot 18-28 from the field — including 3-7 from 3-point range — and made seven of his eight free throws.

It’s the 12th time Booker has scored at least 45 points in a game, by far the most such games in franchise history. No other Sun has recorded more than two 45-point games.

Teammate Chris Paul recorded 14 points, 13 assists, and three steals, the latter two figures game highs. It’s the 213th time Paul has bean a game’s outright leader in both assists and steals. Since the NBA began tracking steals in 1973-74, the only player with more such games is John Stockton (232).