OKLAHOMA CITY – In a high-scoring matchup on Monday night, the Denver Nuggets emerged victorious over the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 140-127 win. Nikola Jokic was the standout performer, scoring 35 points, grabbing 18 rebounds, and providing eight assists for the Nuggets. Jokic’s performance helped Denver recover from their previous 127-103 defeat against the Thunder on Sunday.
Jamal Murray also had an impressive game, contributing 34 points to the Nuggets’ victory. On the other side, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is leading the NBA in scoring and is considered an MVP contender alongside Jokic, scored 25 points. He had netted 40 points the day before in the team’s victory.
Lu Dort was another key player for the Thunder, scoring a season-high of 26 points and connecting on eight three-pointers. Isaiah Hartenstein added 20 points for Oklahoma City. However, the defeat ended the Thunder’s seven-game winning streak, despite them holding the best record in the Western Conference and competing with Cleveland for the best league record overall.
The teams split their season series 2-2, with each team securing wins both at home and away. During this particular game, Oklahoma City led 73-67 at halftime, propelled by 16 points from Hartenstein and 15 from Gilgeous-Alexander. However, Thunder star Jalen Williams left the game in the second quarter due to a right hip strain after scoring 12 points and providing six assists in 14 minutes.
Taking full advantage of Williams’ absence, Denver secured a narrow lead of 101-99 by the end of the third quarter. They continued their dominance into the fourth quarter, replicating the Thunder’s form from the previous day. Murray nailed a three-pointer that pushed Denver into a 109-101 lead with over ten minutes left on the clock, helping the Nuggets to maintain control thereafter.
Key players made crucial plays for the Nuggets, including back-to-back three-pointers from Russell Westbrook and Peyton Watson, stretching their lead to 125-111 with under seven minutes remaining. A significant stat from the game was Jokic’s efficient shooting, making 15 out of 20 field-goal attempts.
Looking ahead, the Denver Nuggets are set to host the Minnesota team on Wednesday, while the Thunder will be heading to Boston. As the season progresses, both teams will be strategizing for their upcoming challenges.
