The Oklahoma City Thunder opened their season with a 96‑84 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night at the Paycom Center. Despite a rare off‑night from star guard Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander, the Thunder showed depth and resilience to secure the win.
Key performances
Jalen Williams led the offensive effort, pouring in 21 points on efficient shooting. Chet Holmgren contributed a double‑double with 12 points and a team‑high 17 rebounds, anchoring the Thunder’s interior defense.
Gilgeous‑Alexander, who had dropped 32 points in a recent win over San Antonio, managed only 17 points on 6‑of‑19 shooting. It marked the first time in 141 games that he failed to reach the 20‑point mark. He also endured a stretch of 24 minutes without a field goal, missing all seven attempts in the first half.
Game flow
The Nuggets, playing their first game of the season, stayed within striking distance early, but the Thunder seized control in the third quarter. A layup by Mitchell gave Oklahoma City a 64‑62 lead, their first lead after starting 3‑0. Three‑point shots from Alex Caruso and Gilgeous‑Alexander extended the margin to 70‑64 after three quarters.
Late in the fourth, Gilgeous‑Alexander hit a three‑pointer to push the lead to 93‑76, but he then asked to be taken out during a timeout and did not return. Denver’s Aaron Gordon added 20 points, while Nikola Jokic and DeMar DeRozan each contributed 13.
Looking ahead
Next up, the Nuggets will host the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night, while the Thunder will welcome the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night.
The win gives Oklahoma City a solid start to the season and demonstrates that the team can succeed even when its marquee scorer is off‑night. Fans left the arena energized, hopeful that the Thunder’s balanced attack will carry them through the campaign.
Original reporting: KOCO Sports (Oklahoma City) — read the source article.
