At the end of the night and tension, the Thunder beat the Nuggets

It didn’t take long to realize that the meeting was going to be tense. The pressure did not build up over the course of minutes, it was there from the first actions. Nikola Jokic heated with Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderand the latter commits a technical foul because he threw the ball at shoulder level. A few moments later, with Lou Dort, then with Jaylin Williams, the tone rises for the Serb. Amid these tensions, the Nuggets are playing better basketball. Tim Hardaway Jr. brings his award-winning baskets and the 2023 champions go 15-0 (19-33).

To answer, the Thunder are relying on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. After the injury, the 2025 MVP continues to make baskets, and Oklahoma City comes back a little at the break (50-59). But the Canadian, and this was confirmed in the third quarter, seems to be a little alone in encouraging results. The countryman, Jamal Murray, also appears, very good in this quarter (77-83). The game heated up again in the fourth quarter when Lou Dort was guilty of unnecessary contact on Nikola Jokic. The three-time MVP gets angry and does more than exchange words with Jaylin Williams. An audience is formed and the judges intervene.

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After a video review, Dort was ejected when Williams and Jokic received technical fouls. Basketball continues and Alex Caruso hits two 3-pointers. Precious baskets to grab overtime after missing a shot at the buzzer (107-107). Mark Daigneault enters the extra five minutes without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but can count on Isaiah Joe and the struggling Nuggets. Of course, Jamal Murray makes a desperate three-pointer at the end, but it’s too late and Oklahoma City wins 127-121.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

The enormous tension of the meeting. Because it was the playoff poster, the atmosphere was very, very important game. It was electric from the first moments. It started with “SGA” and Nikola Jokić, who are usually not the fiercest on the floor. With a highlight of Dort’s action and the ensuing scramble in the final quarter. In between these moments of tension, there was basketball, sometimes good basketball (Jokic finished with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists), but that excitement, contacts and whistles linger in the mind when the game is over.

Welcome back Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. After more than three weeks in the infirmary due to an abdominal muscle injury, the Thunder leader is back. With 36 points and 9 assists, this shock did not escape him, even if he was insanely skilled (12/29). However, he carried his team for most of the match, before other knives made the difference at the end and in extra time.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Difference of points when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.