The Oklahoma City Thunder outlasted the Denver Nuggets 127-121 in overtime in one of the NBA season’s most physical contests, overcoming a halftime deficit and a dramatic fourth-quarter ejection to secure an important home victory. The return of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 36 points after missing nine games with an abdominal injury, gave Oklahoma City a timely boost against one of the Western Conference’s top contenders.
From the opening tip, the game carried a playoff atmosphere. Hard fouls, technical fouls and constant momentum swings kept the intensity high before the Thunder closed out the extra period with disciplined defense and timely scoring, even after Gilgeous-Alexander was unavailable in overtime.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made an immediate impact
Gilgeous-Alexander wasted little time showing he had returned at full speed. The All-NBA guard attacked the basket early, consistently pressured Denver’s defense and helped Oklahoma City stay within striking distance despite the Nuggets’ strong shooting start.
His 36-point performance highlighted why he remains central to the Thunder’s title ambitions. Beyond the scoring, he controlled the game’s tempo, created opportunities for teammates and repeatedly forced Denver into difficult defensive situations.
Denver controlled the first half behind Jamal Murray
The Nuggets looked comfortable through much of the opening two quarters. Jamal Murray, who entered the game listed as questionable because of illness, found his rhythm quickly and finished with a game-high 39 points.
Denver connected on 11 of its first 20 three-point attempts and took a 59-50 halftime lead. Nikola Jokic once again filled every area of the stat sheet with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists, recording another triple-double while directing Denver’s offense.
Oklahoma City shifted momentum after halftime
The third quarter marked the turning point. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 14 points during the period as Oklahoma City increased its defensive pressure and began attacking the paint more consistently.
Although Denver still led 83-77 entering the fourth quarter, the Thunder had changed the pace of the game and gradually reduced the Nuggets’ offensive rhythm.
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Lu Dort’s ejection changed the closing stages
The contest reached another level midway through the fourth quarter. Lu Dort briefly gave Oklahoma City the lead with a three-pointer before a hard foul on Nikola Jokic sparked a confrontation involving multiple players.
Officials reviewed the play and assessed Dort with a Flagrant 2 foul, resulting in his ejection. Additional technical fouls followed as emotions continued to rise, adding even more pressure to an already tense finish.
Despite losing one of its top defenders, Oklahoma City remained composed while Denver struggled to fully regain control during the final possessions of regulation.
Thunder finished stronger in overtime
Regulation ended tied at 107-107, sending the game into overtime after neither side could produce a decisive final basket.
Without Gilgeous-Alexander available in the extra session, Oklahoma City relied on balanced execution rather than individual scoring. The Thunder defended effectively, limited Denver’s second chances and converted key offensive possessions to secure the six-point victory.
For Denver, the defeat was particularly frustrating after leading for much of the night. Strong perimeter shooting and another outstanding all-around performance from Jokic were ultimately not enough to overcome Oklahoma City’s late surge.
Potential playoff preview in the Western Conference
The latest meeting reinforced why these teams are viewed as leading contenders in the Western Conference. Their recent postseason history, combined with the physical style of this matchup, created an atmosphere more typical of a playoff series than a regular-season game.
Oklahoma City’s comeback highlighted its growing ability to win close, high-pressure games against elite opponents. Denver, meanwhile, showed once again why it remains one of the league’s most dangerous teams, even though it could not finish after controlling large stretches of the contest.
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