bleacherreport
In a Thursday night matchup featuring former MVPs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić, the Oklahoma City Thunder secured a 96-84 victory over the Denver Nuggets. The win pushed Oklahoma City to 2-0 on the young season, while Denver fell in its opening game.
Gilgeous-Alexander's remarkable run of 141 consecutive games with at least 20 points came to an end. He finished with 17 points on 5-of-19 shooting, failing to hit a field goal until the second half. Although he found his rhythm in the fourth quarter to help seal the win, the streak could not be salvaged.
Jalen Williams shouldered much of the offensive load for the Thunder, scoring 21 points and adding five rebounds and three assists. Chet Holmgren made a significant impact on the defensive end with 17 rebounds and four blocks, while Ajay Mitchell contributed 12 points and five steals off the bench.
For Denver, Nikola Jokić had a quiet night by his standards, managing 13 points on 5-of-19 shooting to go with seven rebounds and five assists. Aaron Gordon led the Nuggets with 20 points, and Jamal Murray added six points and 10 rebounds. DeMar DeRozan also chipped in 13 points.
Both teams struggled to find their shooting touch throughout the game. Oklahoma City shot 38 percent from the field and 26 percent from three-point range, while Denver posted identical 38 percent field-goal shooting and 27 percent from beyond the arc. The Nuggets also turned the ball over 22 times, which proved costly.
Key Analysis
The matchup between Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokić, anticipated as a clash of stars, instead turned into a gritty defensive battle. Holmgren's presence in the paint disrupted Denver's big men, and the Thunder's defense forced numerous turnovers. Despite the cold shooting, Oklahoma City's ability to capitalize on Denver's mistakes and Williams' steady scoring proved decisive. Both teams will look to sharpen their offensive execution when they meet again later in the season.
Originally reported by bleacherreport.