The Oklahoma City Thunder survived the Denver Nuggets 127-121 in overtime, with the return of the reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, on Friday night.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 36 points in his return after missing nine games due to an abdominal strain.
Meanwhile, Denver’s Nikola Jokic got into an altercation with Thunder’s Lu Dort in the fourth quarter after dropping 23 points, 17 boards, and 14 assists. Dort was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul.
Jamal Murray was listed as questionable due to an illness before the game.
Gilgeous-Alexander started and drew loud applause when his name was announced in pregame introductions.
The teams are very familiar with each other, as the Thunder defeated the Nuggets 4-3 in the Western Conference semifinals last year. Oklahoma City won the first two meetings this season, and they play twice more.
Both exchanged physicals from the start, as Gilgeous-Alexander was called for an early technical foul after complaining to officials that Jokic made contact with him that was not called.
The Nuggets led 59-50 after making 11 of 20 three-pointers before the break, until Gilgeous-Alexander rallied to score 14 points in the third quarter.
Although Denver led 83-77 into the fourth, the Thunder started off hot in the fourth quarter with Dort’s three-pointer putting them edge 86-85.
Dort was ejected for a hard foul against Jokic that led to a scrum near midcourt and offsetting technicals on Jokic and Oklahoma City’s Jaylin Williams.
The tight clash went to overtime, tied at 107.
Both teams will play on Sunday: the Nuggets host the Timberwolves, while the Thunder at Dallas.
