On Wednesday night, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points to help the Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the Denver Nuggets 105-100 in a Western Conference battle.
Nikola Jokic, a Denver star, was sidelined due to lower back problems. Oklahoma City capitalized on the absence of the two-time league MVP by restricting the defending champion Nuggets to 39.8% shooting.
Oklahoma City’s MVP contender was also unsure whether or not to play. Gilgeous-Alexander was dubious, yet he scored at least 30 points in his 14th game in January.
“Dealing with a little bit of illness, but I (felt) good enough to play, obviously,” he added. I wasn’t sure when I was listed. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to go tonight before the game, after a couple naps and a couple of sleeps. I had enough stamina to go.”
Chet Holmgren led the Thunder with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and five blocks, while Aaron Wiggins and Vasilije Micic each contributed 12 points.
Oklahoma City guard Jalen Williams, the team’s second-leading scorer this season, was out with a sprained right ankle, while reserve guard Isaiah Joe was out with a bruised sternum.
“I just thought the team, like, solved problems together,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. “It was a fantastic team win. Everyone contributed. In a game that was obviously a grind, I was just really thrilled with the energy that we were able to channel tonight.”
The Thunder won the season series 3–1 and averted their first three-game losing streak of the season. Oklahoma City outrebounded Denver 53-47 and outscored them 20-11 from the free throw line.
The Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon recorded 16 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists.
“I thought he was just fantastic in terms of effort and aggression, playmaking, shot blocking, and defense,” Denver coach Michael Malone said. “We had a lot of questions for him tonight… Tonight, I thought Aaron was simply incredible. It’s disappointing that we were unable to win.”
The Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr. scored 15 points and eight rebounds.
Oklahoma City led 73-72 entering the fourth quarter and started the period on a 10-0 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer by Lu Dort. Holmgren’s one-handed putback of Cason Wallace’s missed 3-pointer gave the Thunder an 87-74 advantage.
Denver had trimmed the lead to four when Gilgeous-Alexander scored on a three-point play and then a three-pointer to put Oklahoma City up by ten with approximately four minutes left.
Denver kept his focus. Gordon’s one-handed dunk in traffic reduced Oklahoma City’s advantage to 98-95, and Jamal Murray’s free throws made it a one-point game.
With 22 seconds remaining, Holmgren hit a 3-pointer to give Oklahoma City a four-point advantage. The Thunder then bullied Denver into a five-second call and held on from there.
“We have guys on our team who want to win and will do anything to get it,” Gilgeous-Alexander added. “And no matter what’s going on in the past or future, all you can control is the now. I believe we did that tonight. We took it one possession at a time. We gave it everything we had in those possessions, which was enough to win, and we were rewarded for it.”
