The Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a record-breaking performance on Wednesday night, overwhelming the Denver Nuggets 149-106 to tie their Western Conference semifinal series 1-1.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points in just three quarters, leading a Thunder team that set an NBA playoff record with 87 first-half points and tied the record for points in any half.
Oklahoma City’s 45-point first quarter and 71.4% shooting to open the game buried Denver early, as the top-seeded Thunder responded emphatically after dropping Game 1.
Chet Holmgren, who missed two key free throws late in Sunday’s loss, drilled a pair with one second left in the second quarter to set the halftime scoring record and push the lead to 87-56.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished 11-for-13 from the field and 11-for-11 from the line, while also dishing out eight assists as part of a balanced effort that saw eight Thunder players score in double figures.
Jalen Williams added 17 points and seven assists, and Holmgren contributed a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
The Thunder outscored Denver 37-20 in the third quarter and led by as many as 49 before resting their starters.
The home crowd that had cheered Russell Westbrook during his Game 1 return turned on the former franchise star in Game 2, booing him after a technical foul in the first quarter as Oklahoma City extended its lead to 34-13.
Westbrook led Denver with 19 points off the bench, but Nikola Jokic managed just 17 points and eight rebounds before fouling out late in the third quarter.
Jamal Murray scored 14, but Denver shot 37.9% from the field and committed 20 turnovers in one of its worst playoff defeats in franchise history.
Oklahoma City shot 56.2% overall and 44.4% from three while making 33 of 36 free throws.
The Thunder also became the first home team to win in the second round, avoiding a critical 0-2 hole before the series shifts to Denver for Game 3 on Friday.
