OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put on a remarkable performance, scoring 40 points to propel the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 127-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets. This clash featured the top two teams in the Western Conference, with the Thunder extending their winning streak to an impressive seven games and boosting their record to 53-11.
The Thunder’s formidable lineup was complemented by Jalen Williams, who chipped in 26 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. Meanwhile, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, a key contender in the NBA MVP race alongside Gilgeous-Alexander, contributed 24 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists.
Michael Porter Jr. also had a strong showing for the Nuggets, adding 24 points and 15 rebounds. Denver started the game with a 10-0 lead, but Oklahoma City quickly found their rhythm and closed the first quarter trailing by just one point, 29-28.
Going into halftime, the Thunder had edged ahead with a 61-60 lead, maintaining a slight advantage at 86-83 by the end of the third quarter.
One pivotal moment in the game came when Oklahoma City’s Aaron Wiggins stole the ball from Denver’s Russell Westbrook. This set up Chet Holmgren’s dunk on the other end, extending the Thunder’s lead to 98-91 with under nine minutes left. Following a technical foul on Denver’s coach, Michael Malone, Williams capitalized with a successful free throw, allowing Oklahoma City to maintain control for the remainder of the game.
For the Thunder, playing at full strength after resting key players like Gilgeous-Alexander in a recent win against Portland, was crucial. The team also made a notable defensive stand against Jokic, despite his formidable statistics.
A vital play occurred when Williams sparked a fast break with a steal from Jokic. Although Lu Dort missed a potential crowd-igniting dunk, Williams retrieved the ball, setting up Dort for a successful three-pointer, extending their lead to 112-99 with just over four minutes remaining.
Oklahoma City exhibited disciplined play by committing only five turnovers throughout the game. The two teams are set to face each other again in Oklahoma City on Monday night.
