Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives past Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to their seventh consecutive victory, a 127-103 rout over the visiting Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
It was the first of back-to-back games in Oklahoma City for the teams that entered the day in the top two spots in the NBA Western Conference. The loss dropped the Nuggets into third place, percentage points behind the Los Angeles Lakers.
The West-leading Thunder have won 16 of their last 18 games and snapped the Nuggets’ two-game winning streak.
READ: NBA: Short-handed Thunder roll past Trail Blazers
SGA’S SPECTACULAR SEASON CONTINUES ✨
⛈️ 40 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST, 3 BLK, W ⛈️
IT’S HIS 3RD STRAIGHT GAME WITH 40+ PTS AND HIS 40TH 30+ PT GAME OF THE YEAR. 🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/zSy75mzHOq
— NBA (@NBA) March 9, 2025
With just more than two minutes remaining and the Nuggets’ chances for a comeback already hanging by a thread, Gilgeous-Alexander pulled up from the top of the key and drained a 3-pointer to stretch Oklahoma City’s lead to 18 and virtually put the game away.
The bucket also gave Gilgeous-Alexander his NBA-best 11th 40-point game of the season.
Nikola Jokic, coming off an historic performance (31 points, 21 rebounds and 22 assists) in Friday’s overtime win over Phoenix, came up just short of his 30th triple-double of the season.
Jokic, who made just 2 of 10 3-point attempts, finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, along with three blocks.
Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t much better from distance, going 2 of 11 on 3-pointers, but was 15 of 32 overall. He added eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks.
The Nuggets got off to a quick start, scoring the game’s first 10 points and leading by 11 just more than four minutes in.
READ: NBA: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 51 as Thunder top Rockets
But Oklahoma City quickly cut into the lead and eventually trimmed the deficit to one to close the first quarter.
In the third quarter, it was Denver’s turn to fall behind by double figures and battle back.
The Thunder led by 11 about midway through the quarter before the Nuggets cut the margin to three entering the fourth.
With Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench, Oklahoma City reeled off a 14-3 run early in the fourth to take control for good.
That stretch was fueled largely by Jalen Williams, who scored seven of his 26 points during that stretch. He also grabbed nine rebounds and dished out eight assists.
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After beating Portland on Friday without any of its usual starters, all five returned for Oklahoma City. Chet Holmgren contributed 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocks, while Isaiah Hartenstein had 10 points and 11 boards.
Denver’s Michael Porter Jr. had 24 points and 15 rebounds, while Christian Braun added 19 points and Jamal Murray scored 17.
