Thunder roll past Nuggets in season opener

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 28 points, while Chet Holmgren contributed 25 points in a remarkable all-around display, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 102-87 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday evening, marking the season opener for both teams.

Holmgren showcased his versatility on both offense and defense, matching his career high with 14 rebounds, alongside five assists and four blocked shots. Additionally, Aaron Wiggins, coming off the bench, added 15 points to the Thunder's total.

This matchup was significant within the division, as both the Thunder and Nuggets concluded the previous season with a record of 57-25, with the Thunder securing the top seed in the Western Conference due to a tiebreaker.

For the Nuggets, reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic finished with 16 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds. His backcourt partner, Jamal Murray, managed 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting, while Christian Braun contributed 16 points and Aaron Gordon, who recently signed a contract extension, added 12 points. The Nuggets struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 7 of 39 three-point attempts.

Thunder: Holmgren demonstrated his ability to dominate the court. In the third quarter, he blocked a shot from Jokic, sprinted down the court, received a pass, and executed a powerful dunk.

Nuggets: The Thunder's bench outperformed the Nuggets' reserves, scoring 25 points compared to 16. Newcomer Russell Westbrook recorded six points on 2-of-10 shooting.

Prior to the game, players and coaches from the Nuggets honored the late Dikembe Mutombo by wearing T-shirts featuring his iconic finger wag. A video tribute highlighting Mutombo's significant achievements both on and off the court was shown in the first quarter, followed by a 55-second standing ovation from fans in remembrance of his jersey number. Mutombo passed away last month due to brain cancer at the age of 58.

With an average age of 24 years and 148 days, the Thunder commenced the regular season with the youngest roster in the league.

The Thunder will face the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night, while the Nuggets will host the Los Angeles Clippers on the same evening.

Activity

SportsLigue