Thunder rout Jazz 146-111 behind balanced attack

The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Utah Jazz 146-111 on Sunday, April 5, 2026, at Paycom Center, with Chet Holmgren leading Oklahoma City with 21 points in a complete team performance. The Thunder took control early, kept their offense moving, and finished with one of their most efficient scoring nights of the season.

Quarter-by-quarter breakdown

First Quarter

Oklahoma City set the tone immediately, outscoring Utah 40-25 in the opening period. The Thunder found clean looks both in the paint and from beyond the arc, and their pace put the Jazz on the back foot right away. Utah stayed competitive through stretches behind Brice Sensabaugh’s scoring, but OKC’s shot-making and ball movement created an early double-digit gap.

Second Quarter

The Thunder added 35 more points in the second and carried a 75-54 lead into halftime. Utah scored 29 in the quarter and had some productive offensive possessions, yet Oklahoma City continued to generate quality shots across the floor. By the break, the Thunder had already built a 21-point advantage and looked fully in command.

Third Quarter

Any thought of a Jazz push faded in the third. Oklahoma City won the period 33-27, continuing to execute efficiently while limiting Utah’s chances to string together stops. Holmgren remained effective inside, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander helped organize the offense as the Thunder extended the margin to 108-81 entering the fourth.

Fourth Quarter

The final quarter followed the same pattern. Oklahoma City scored 38 more points, matching its sharp offensive rhythm all night, while Utah added 30. The Thunder closed out the 35-point win without drama, finishing with 146 points on 58.1% shooting and 24 made three-pointers.

Key performers

Oklahoma City Thunder:
Chet Holmgren led the Thunder with 21 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks, providing impact on both ends. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced the playmaking with seven assists, and Isaiah Hartenstein led the team with eight rebounds. More broadly, this was a true group effort: Oklahoma City piled up 40 assists and shot 53.3% from three-point range, showing how connected the offense was throughout the night.

Utah Jazz:
Brice Sensabaugh led all scorers with 34 points and was Utah’s clearest offensive bright spot. Kyle Filipowski added a strong all-around game with 14 rebounds and six assists, helping the Jazz stay active on the glass and move the ball. Still, Utah could not match Oklahoma City’s efficiency over four quarters.

NerdSports Stat: Oklahoma City scored at least 33 points in every quarter and still had 40 assists, meaning the Thunder paired wire-to-wire scoring consistency with nearly one assist for every 3.7 points.

Game analysis

This game came down to efficiency, spacing, and sustained execution. Oklahoma City shot 54-for-93 from the field and 24-for-45 from three, numbers that are difficult for any opponent to overcome. The Thunder also made the extra pass consistently, and their 40 assists reflected how often the ball found the right player in the right spot.

Utah actually generated volume with 100 field-goal attempts, but the Jazz shot 43.0% overall and 35.9% from three, leaving too much of a gap in shot quality and conversion. Oklahoma City also held a 47-43 edge on the glass and protected its offensive rhythm from start to finish.

The most notable part of the Thunder’s performance was how little they relied on one player carrying the scoring load. Holmgren led the team with 21, but Oklahoma City’s total output showed how balanced and repeatable the offense looked. When a team reaches 146 points with that kind of distribution and ball movement, it usually means the defense had to cover every part of the floor all night.

Closing context

The win moved Oklahoma City to 62-16 overall and 34-7 at home, another strong result as the Thunder continue to strengthen their position near the top of the Western Conference heading into the final stretch of the regular season. Utah fell to 21-58 and 8-31 on the road, with Sensabaugh’s scoring night one of the few positives in a difficult trip to Oklahoma City.

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