3 takeaways from the Phoenix Suns' worst loss in franchise history

OKLAHOMA CITY — This went from bad to worse to historically awful.

The Phoenix Suns trailed by as many as 53 points in suffering their worst loss ever, falling 138-89, to defending NBA champion Oklahoma City in an NBA Cup quarterfinal game Dec. 10 before a sellout crowd of 18,203 at Paycom Center.

“The gap isn't that much in between the two of us, but tonight it was,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said.

The previous record was 48 points set in the 2017-18 season opener when Phoenix lost to the Portland Trail Blazers, 124-76, at home.

Later that season, the San Antonio Spurs throttled the Suns by the same margin, 129-81, in Phoenix.

Phoenix finished that season a woeful 21-61.

These 2025-26 Suns (14-11) are better than that 2017-18 squad, but they were no match for the NBA’s top team Wednesday night.

“Got to play harder,” Suns forward Dillon Brooks said. “That isn't a representation of us as an organization, as a team, coaching staff, players. That ain't us.”

The Suns had just pushed the almighty Thunder (24-1) to the brink a month ago in NBA Cup group play before losing, 123-119, on Nov. 28.

It was Oklahoma City’s closest margin of victory in what has ballooned into a franchise-record 16-game winning streak.

The rematch was a Thunder obliteration.

Oklahoma City closed the first half with a 20-6 surge, hitting six 3s during that stretch to take a 74-48 halftime lead.

The Thunder cooked the Suns with 22-of-40 shooting from 3 and 34 points off 21 Phoenix turnovers.

Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 28 points in 27 minutes to lead Oklahoma City to the NBA Cup semifinals Saturday in Las Vegas.

The No. 1-seeded Thunder face the No. 3 San Antonio Spurs (17-7) at T-Mobile Arena in the second semifinal after the third-seeded New York Knicks (17-7) and No. 1 seed Orlando Magic battle in the first semifinal in Vegas.

Brooks paced the Suns with 16 points on 4-of-16 shooting. Phoenix lost the possession game as Oklahoma City attempted four more shots from the field, trailed the last 47 minutes and 53 seconds of play and only scored six points off seven offensive rebounds.

“I thought we had good mental toughness,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “It’s hard to play with leads. It’s hard not to get distracted by the score and I thought the group to start the third quarter came out and threw the first punch.”

The Suns were down Devin Booker (right groin strain), Jalen Green (right hamstring strain) and two-way player Isaiah Livers (right hip strain).

The Suns also lost Grayson Allen to a flagrant 2 ejection in the second half on Wednesday.

Here are three quick takeaways as the Suns will resume play Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix at 6 p.m.

Sitting Booker again was a smart move

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Booker has shown throughout his NBA career that he’ll return from injury too soon and re-injure himself.

Case in point.

Booker missed three games with groin soreness in the 2022-23 season, returned to action on Christmas and suffered a left groin strain in the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets.

He missed 21 consecutive games with a left groin strain.

For Phoenix to sit him out for a third straight game after he experienced a right groin strain Dec. 1 against the Lakers was a smart move.

Thunder put Suns away with 3-point barrage

Phoenix fell behind by as many as 20 points early in the second quarter, but closed that gap to 11 points, 45-34, with 8:21 left.

The Suns stayed within striking distance, trailing 54-42, before Oklahoma City closed the final 3:53 of the first half on a 20-6 run fueled by six made 3s to take a 74-48 halftime lead.

Lu Dort nailed half of those 3s while Aaron Wiggins, Jalen Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander each hit one from distance. Williams closed with the run with his 3 with 1.2 seconds left.

The Thunder don’t need extra motivation to play well, but they made a statement in blasting Phoenix after that close win a month ago.

They brought a level of intensity, focus and aggressiveness that overwhelmed Phoenix. The Suns aren't as bad as the final score, but Oklahoma City reminded them they have a long way to go to reach its level.

Gillespie 'moved up in the scouting report'

Collin Gillespie had posted 12 consecutive double-digit scoring games.

He averaged 17.6 points during that stretch, shooting 46.7% from 3 (43-of-92).

The usually even-keel guard scored a then-career high 24 points in that four-point loss at Oklahoma City before topping that with 28 on Dec. 1 against the Lakers.

Gillespie had the Thunder’s full attention Wednesday.

They brought physicality to Gillespie, crowded him. He went scoreless in the first half and finished the night with just two points on 1-of-5 shooting and committed four turnovers.

Gillespie was having more frustrating conversations with the referees than normal.

Well, it's official: Gillespie has “moved up in the scouting report," as Ott put it.

Now Gillespie not only has a chance to respond, but also to adjust to how teams are defending him.