Aaron Gordon breaks Alex English’s record with a nuclear season opener

Aaron Gordon was a man on a mission throughout the 2024-25 season as he took his game to the next level and helped make up for Denver Nuggets‘ lack of depth. If not for a hamstring strain that slowed him down in Game 7 of their second-round playoff matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Nuggets might have gotten over that hump. But now, The Nuggets’ roster is more complexand Gordon made it clear during media day that he will focus on the defensive end of the field.

But for the Nuggets’ season opener against the Golden State Warriors, Gordon decided to co-star as Stephen Curry for the day. Gordon, nicknamed “Mr. Nugget,” finished with a game-high 50 points after making 10 3-pointers, including eight straight at one point. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough as the Nuggets lost 137-131 to the still undefeated Dubs.

In the process, Gordon has now scored a goal the most points by any player in Nuggets history in a season opener, breaking the record set by Alex English (48 points) nearly 40 years ago (Oct. 25, 1985), per Troy Renk of the Denver Post.

Gordon also drained a 3-pointer that could have given the Nuggets a victory late in regulation if it hadn’t been for the real Curry clapping late in regulation and in overtime en route to a 137-131 loss to Denver. He continues the incredible shooting pace he started last season, when he went from low 30s shooting from deep (percentage) all the way up to 43.6 percent.

The 30-year-old forward has embraced his role as a supporting player to a superstar, and the Nuggets have to thank their lucky stars that he’s still a part of this roster with championship ambitions.

Nikola Jokic, Nuggets ran out of steam in OT

Jokic had a triple-double (21 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists) and was the star of the night for the Nuggets. However, he couldn’t make his threes when it mattered. Jokic missed several threes in crunch time, which was in stark contrast to how the Warriors seemed to make every three when it mattered. Curry hit a 3-pointer to start overtime, followed by 3-pointers from Al Horford and Jimmy Butler that essentially put the game out of Denver’s reach.

Jokic will get better as the season progresses. He’s not going to shoot 13 threes every night anyway.