The Oklahoma City Thunder stayed perfect with a 96-84 win over the Denver Nuggets in their home opener on Thursday night, but the story of the evening was what Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did not do. The two-time reigning MVP finished with 17 points, failing to score 20 for the first time in 142 games, according to the Associated Press.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who dropped 32 in the season-opening win over San Antonio on Tuesday, missed all seven of his shots in the first half and managed just two points before halftime, both from the free-throw line. He finished 6-of-19 from the field. With 1:44 left and Oklahoma City up 93-76, he asked to be taken out during a timeout and did not return.
Jalen Williams picked up the slack with a team-high 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting, while Chet Holmgren controlled the paint with 12 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks. Ajay Mitchell added 12 points and five steals off the bench.
Defense turns the game
Denver led 48-44 at halftime after building a nine-point advantage behind Aaron Gordon’s 20 points. But Oklahoma City’s trademark defensive intensity took over. The Thunder forced 13 Nuggets turnovers in the second half and converted them into 19 points, outscoring Denver 52-36 after the break.
A Mitchell fast-break layup gave Oklahoma City a 64-62 lead, its first since 3-0, and three-pointers from Alex Caruso and Gilgeous-Alexander stretched it to 70-64 entering the fourth. The Thunder never looked back. Cason Wallace chipped in nine points and four steals, and Caruso added seven points and five assists off the bench as Oklahoma City’s reserves outplayed Denver’s. The teams combined to shoot under 38 percent from the field in a defensive grind, with the Thunder’s 12 steals and nine blocks telling the story, per Legion Report’s box score.
Jokic, Murray struggle
Nikola Jokic endured a miserable night, finishing with 13 points on 5-of-19 shooting. Jamal Murray was worse, scoring six points on 2-of-11 with six turnovers. Newcomer DeMar DeRozan added 13 in his Nuggets debut, but Denver’s offense never found a rhythm against the defending champions’ pressure.
The win moves Oklahoma City to 2-0 and underscores its championship depth: even on a night its superstar could not buy a basket, the Thunder smothered a contender. Denver falls to 0-1 and heads home to face New Orleans on Saturday, while the Thunder host the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
