Nuggets 124-122 Thunder (November 6, 2024) Game Recap

DENVER – Russell Westbrook scored 29 points, Peyton Watson blocked a shot in the final seconds after missing two free throws at the other end, and the injury-plagued Denver Nuggets fought back from their first loss to the Thunder, 124-122, against Oklahoma City on Wednesday night of the season.

Nikola Jokic finished the game with 23 points, 20 rebounds and 16 assists as the Nuggets rallied from a 16-point deficit in the third quarter. Christian Braun added 24.

Michael Porter Jr. came up big after a slow start, scoring 21 of his 24 points in the second half. The undermanned Nuggets were without power forward Aaron Gordon (strained calf) and point guard Jamal Murray (concussion protocol).

Watson had a chance to tie the game at the line with 16 seconds left, but missed both free throws. He made up for it by getting the shot off a driving Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just before the buzzer sounded.

Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, while Gilgeous-Alexander had 28 points.

Takeaways

Thunder: The Thunder were so strong defensively that they allowed 69 points in the second half. They entered the competition conceding a league-low 95.9 points per game.

Little things: At times, Denver struggled to keep a cool head. In addition to coach Michael Malone, Westbrook was also assigned a technical. They stayed cool the whole way.

Key moment

Trailing 108:106, the Nuggets managed to take control of the game with a 17:7 run. Young players Julian Strawther and Watson played crucial roles in this phase.

Key statistics

For the seventh time in eight games, the Nuggets were outnumbered in the first quarter (32-30).

Next

The Nuggets host the Miami Heat on Friday and the Thunder play a six-game homestand against the Houston Rockets the same evening.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba