Thunder Grind Past Nuggets 96-84 as Gilgeous-Alexander's 141-Game Streak Ends
Oklahoma City won its home opener on defence and depth while its MVP had his quietest night in years.
Oklahoma City beat Denver 96-84 on Thursday night in the Thunder's home opener, improving to 2-0 and sending the Nuggets to a loss in their first game of the season. It was a low-scoring, error-strewn night, and the way it ended mattered more than how it started: Denver led for most of the first half and was outplayed after it.
A slow start, then a swing
According to the Inquirer's wire report, Denver led by as many as nine points and Oklahoma City trailed for much of the first half. The Nuggets were up 48-44 at the break, per the Colorado Springs Gazette. Out of the half, the Thunder cut into that lead, and a layup from Ajay Mitchell put them in front 64-62 — their first lead since the opening minutes. Threes from Alex Caruso and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made it 70-64 heading into the fourth quarter, and Oklahoma City held the advantage from there.
Neither team shot well. Bleacher Report's box-score write-up has both sides at 38 per cent from the field, with Oklahoma City at 26 per cent from three and Denver at 27. Denver also turned the ball over 22 times.
Williams and Holmgren carry the load
With the reigning MVP struggling, Jalen Williams led Oklahoma City with 21 points. Chet Holmgren added 12 points and 17 rebounds, and Bleacher Report credits him with four blocks. Mitchell finished with 12 points and five steals.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 17 points on 6-of-19 shooting. The Inquirer reports he missed all seven of his shots in the first half and was kept off the scoreboard from the field until the third quarter, and that it was only the fourth time in 450 games with the Thunder that he went without a field goal in a half. The night also ended his run of consecutive 20-point games at 141; he had scored 32 against San Antonio on Tuesday.
Denver's stars have an off night
For the Nuggets, Aaron Gordon led the way with 20 points. Nikola Jokic had 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists but was 5 of 19 from the floor, per Bleacher Report. Jamal Murray scored six points with 10 rebounds, and DeMar DeRozan added 13. The Gazette also reports that Cam Johnson left in the first half with a right ankle sprain and did not return; Spencer Jones sat out for what the coach described as precautionary hamstring management.
What it means
One game is one game, and a season-opening loss on the road against a team of this calibre says little on its own. But Oklahoma City's win came on a night when its best player was well below his usual output — the sort of result that points to depth rather than a single scorer. Denver, by contrast, will want its two stars shooting better than they did here. The Nuggets host New Orleans on Saturday; the Thunder host the Clippers on Sunday.