The Denver Nuggets noticed their six-game successful streak snapped by the hands of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Friday, Dec. 29, by a rating of 119-93. Whereas the Nuggets seem to have turned issues up of late and are wholesome whereas additionally wanting like one of many NBA’s most dominant groups, a ton of credit score ought to go to this Thunder group.
Not solely did Oklahoma Metropolis take down the (now) 23-11 Nuggets, however it did so in Denver, the place Nikola Jokic and firm had been 13-2 this season getting into the matchup. The victory got here behind a monster efficiency from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 40 factors with 4 rebounds and three assists whereas taking pictures 14-20 from the sphere. After the massive displaying, Nuggets star Nikola Jokic gave the last word reward to the 25-year-old guard.
“He is an issue on this league. The advantage of him is he desires to win. He does not care about numbers,” Jokic mentioned, per Ryan Blackburn of Mile High Sports. “He desires to win, and I feel that is one of the best factor about him.”
Jokic as soon as once more flirted with a triple-double himself, scoring 19 factors with 10 rebounds and 7 assists, however Oklahoma Metropolis’s protection pressured him into an uncharacteristic seven turnovers. Gilgeous-Alexander was one in every of six Thunder gamers to report a steal, whereas Chet Holmgren led a gaggle of seven gamers with a minimum of one block, because the Rookie of the Yr candidate blocked two photographs himself.