Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a complete performance Sunday night as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Denver Nuggets 121-111 at Ball Arena.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 34 points and 13 assists, guiding Oklahoma City past Denver in the first meeting this season between the top two teams in the Western Conference.
Cason Wallace provided a major boost for the visitors, scoring a career-high 27 points while connecting on seven three-pointers.
The Thunder, who had dropped three of their previous four games, leaned heavily on perimeter shooting and made 19 shots from beyond the arc.
Oklahoma City built early separation by going 8-of-13 from three-point range in the third quarter, stretching a seven-point halftime lead into a 16-point advantage.
The Nuggets briefly pulled within 74-70 midway through the third, but the game turned decisively moments later.
Chet Holmgren, named an All-Star reserve earlier in the day, hit a three-pointer before Wallace buried consecutive shots from deep.
Following a Denver timeout, Gilgeous-Alexander and Aaron Wiggins each knocked down three-pointers to cap a 12-0 run, with all six baskets coming from long range.
The Thunder led 62-55 at halftime after holding Denver scoreless for extended stretches in the second quarter.
Oklahoma City had led by as many as 14 points in the first half and never trailed in the game.
Peyton Watson paced Denver with 29 points, shooting 11-of-17 from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc.
Nikola Jokic scored 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting in his second game back from a knee injury that sidelined him for 16 contests.
Jamal Murray recorded 12 points and 12 assists but struggled from the floor, shooting 4-of-16 overall and 1-of-8 from three-point range.
The Nuggets’ All-Star duo combined for 28 points, well below their season averages.
Both teams played short-handed, with several regular rotation players unavailable.
Denver remained without Aaron Gordon due to a right hamstring injury, while Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson were also sidelined.
The Thunder were missing Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell, and Alex Caruso, though Isaiah Hartenstein returned after missing time with a calf injury.
Jokic and Hartenstein had both rejoined their lineups earlier in the week.
The victory improved Oklahoma City to 39-11, maintaining its hold on first place in the Western Conference standings.
Denver fell to 33-17, remaining third in the West after its first loss to the Thunder since last spring’s playoff meeting.
Oklahoma City hosts the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, while the Nuggets visit the Detroit Pistons.
