Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook powered the Denver Nuggets to a 124-122 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night, handing the Thunder their first loss of the season.
Jokic recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 20 rebounds, and 16 assists, while Westbrook scored 29 points to lead the Nuggets (5-3) to a come-from-behind win.
The Thunder (7-1) had controlled the game for much of the night, including a 16-point lead in the third quarter. However, the Nuggets mounted a strong rally, aided by key performances from Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun. Porter finished with 24 points, while Braun added 24 of his own, helping Denver secure the hard-fought victory.
Westbrook, who has been a key player for the Nuggets, hit several crucial shots down the stretch to keep his team in the game. Despite missing both free throws with 16 seconds left, Peyton Watson redeemed himself by blocking Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s driving shot as the buzzer sounded, sealing the win for Denver.
Porter, who struggled early in the game, exploded in the second half, scoring 21 of his 24 points. His strong performance was crucial as the Nuggets rallied from a 108-106 deficit. The Nuggets outscored Oklahoma City 17-7 during a critical stretch to seize control of the game.
For Oklahoma City, Jalen Williams led the way with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, while Gilgeous-Alexander added 28 points. Despite their impressive individual performances, the Thunder couldn’t overcome their defensive struggles in the second half, allowing the Nuggets to score 69 points after halftime.
Denver was without two key players: power forward Aaron Gordon (strained calf) and point guard Jamal Murray (concussion protocol). Despite these absences, the Nuggets’ depth, led by Jokic’s all-around brilliance and Westbrook’s scoring, proved to be enough to secure the win.
The Thunder were also missing a key player in their lineup, with Chet Holmgren contributing 15 points and 10 rebounds but struggling with his shooting efficiency.
