OKC Thunder 127, Denver Nuggets 121 — SGA Drops 36, Jokić Records Triple-Double in Loss
The Oklahoma City Thunder survived a furious Nikola Jokić triple-double to defeat the Denver Nuggets 127–121 on Friday night at Paycom Center. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was brilliant with 36 points, Chet Holmgren hauled down 21 rebounds, and OKC's defense held just enough late to seal a crucial Western Conference win.
OKC Thunder vs Denver Nuggets: How the Game Unfolded
Oklahoma City controlled this game from tip-off, building their biggest lead at 9 points before Denver mounted a furious second-half rally powered entirely by Jokić. The Thunder won all four quarters — 20-14, 31-26, 27-24, and 30-24 — but it was never comfortable with the Joker orchestrating the Nuggets offense from everywhere on the floor.
Denver's biggest lead was 16 points in the first half before OKC stormed back. The Thunder's 14 steals were the defining defensive stat of the night, generating 21 points off turnovers and keeping Denver from ever fully taking over the game despite Jokić's superhuman effort.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Box Score: 36 Points, 9 Assists
SGA was the best player on the floor for long stretches, finishing with 36 points on 12-of-29 shooting, adding 9 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. He went 12-of-13 from the free throw line and posted a +16 plus-minus, the best on the team.
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 36 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 2 | +16 |
| Chet Holmgren | 15 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 3 | +6 |
| Jared McCain | 14 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | +9 |
| Jaylin Williams | 12 | 5 | 3 | — | 1 | +17 |
| Isaiah Joe | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | +14 |
| Luguentz Dort | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | +7 |
| Cason Wallace | 10 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | -10 |
| Isaiah Hartenstein | 9 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 2 | -3 |
Nikola Jokić Triple-Double: 23 Points, 17 Rebounds, 14 Assists
Jokić was Jokić — recording a monster triple-double of 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 14 assists despite shooting just 36% from the field. He was the engine of everything Denver did offensively, but his 3 turnovers and OKC's suffocating help defense ultimately cost the Nuggets in the final minutes.
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokić | 23 | 17 | 14 | 1 | — | +15 |
| Christian Braun | 23 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | +12 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 16 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | -13 |
| Cameron Johnson | 7 | 8 | 1 | — | 3 | -25 |
| Jonas Valanciunas | 6 | 2 | — | 1 | — | -21 |
| Bruce Brown | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | — | -1 |
Luguentz Dort and Chet Holmgren: The Unsung Heroes
Lu Dort was quietly excellent in his defensive specialist role, finishing 8 points, 6 rebounds, and a +7 plus-minus while drawing a flagrant foul and keeping Nuggets wings honest all night. His 3-of-6 shooting from three including two made threes kept the offense flowing during key stretches.
Chet Holmgren was the defensive anchor the Thunder needed most. His 21 rebounds — the most dominant rebounding performance by an OKC big in recent memory — combined with 3 blocks and 15 points on efficient 62.5% shooting gave Oklahoma City the interior presence to match Jokić. His +6 plus-minus in a controlled starting role was critical to the win.
What This Means for OKC Thunder and Denver Nuggets
OKC improve to one of the best records in the Western Conference with this win, while Denver suffers a painful road loss despite Jokić's heroics. The Thunder host the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday at 8:00 PM ET — their next chance to keep rolling. Denver face the Minnesota Timberwolves at home Sunday at 8:30 PM ET as they look to bounce back. Despite the loss, Jokić's triple-double line confirmed he remains firmly in the MVP conversation as the NBA regular season enters its final stretch.
