Game ID: 22400920
Denver Nuggets @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Sunday, March 9, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
OKC 28 33 25 41 127DEN 29 31 23 20 103
DEN @ OKC ScoutingDEN @ OKC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
OKC availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 25 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Wallace back 2/21 after 7, 27 min since (104% of 26)
BACK Jay. Williams back 2/24 after 2, 12 min since (82% of 14)
OKC availability going into 3/03 · back-to-backOUT Mitchell missed 26 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Jay. Williams back 2/24 after 2, 12 min since (85% of 14)
OKC availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Joe missed 2 since 3/02, returns tonight: 16 min (82% of 19)
OUT Mitchell missed 27 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Jay. Williams back 2/24 after 2, 12 min since (80% of 14)
NEW Wallace 26 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Wiggins 21 to 27 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 28 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Joe back 3/05 after 2, 16 min since (82% of 19)
NEW Wiggins 21 to 27 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Holmgren missed 2 since 3/05, returns tonight: 26 min (91% of 28)
OUT Mitchell missed 29 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Joe back 3/05 after 2, 25 min since (130% of 19)
NEW Wiggins 21 to 27 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/10 · back-to-backOUT Mitchell missed 30 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holmgren back 3/09 after 2, 26 min since (91% of 28)
BACK Joe back 3/05 after 2, 21 min since (109% of 19)
NEW Wiggins 21 to 26 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 31 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holmgren back 3/09 after 2, 27 min since (96% of 28)
BACK Joe back 3/05 after 2, 20 min since (103% of 19)
OKC availability going into 3/15 · 2 days' restOUT Mitchell missed 32 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holmgren back 3/09 after 2, 30 min since (104% of 28)
BACK Joe back 3/05 after 2, 21 min since (108% of 19)
NEW Dort 29 to 34 min over the last 4
OKC availability going into 3/16 · back-to-backOUT Jal. Williams missed 2 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 33 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holmgren back 3/09 after 2, 30 min since (104% of 28)
NEW Joe 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW K. Williams 15 to 22 min over the last 4
DEN availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT Watson missed 11 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 4 since 2/20, returns tonight: 4 min (27% of 13)
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/20 after 3, 32 min since (96% of 33)
BACK Westbrook back 2/20 after 7, 25 min since (90% of 27)
NEW Nnaji 10 to 20 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 12 since 2/01, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/20 after 3, 33 min since (100% of 33)
BACK Westbrook back 2/20 after 7, 24 min since (88% of 27)
BACK Šarić back 2/28 after 4, 4 min since (27% of 13)
NEW Nnaji 10 to 17 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/05 · 2 days' restOUT Gordon missed 2 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Watson missed 13 since 2/01, returns tonight: 17 min (75% of 23)
BACK Šarić back 2/28 after 4, 4 min since (27% of 13)
DEN availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 3 since 2/28, returns tonight: 39 min (128% of 30)
OUT Šarić missed 2 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Watson back 3/05 after 13, 17 min since (75% of 23)
NEW Nnaji 10 to 16 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 2 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 3 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 3/07 after 3, 39 min since (128% of 30)
BACK Watson back 3/05 after 13, 20 min since (90% of 23)
DEN availability going into 3/10 · back-to-backOUT Strawther missed 3 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 4 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 3 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 3/07 after 3, 23 min since (75% of 30)
BACK Watson back 3/05 after 13, 16 min since (69% of 23)
NEW Porter Jr. 33 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 10 to 17 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 4 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 5 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 4 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 3/07 after 3, 23 min since (75% of 30)
BACK Watson back 3/05 after 13, 18 min since (79% of 23)
DEN availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 2 since 3/10, returns tonight: 32 min (104% of 30)
OUT Strawther missed 5 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 6 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 5 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Watson back 3/05 after 13, 17 min since (77% of 23)
NEW Nnaji 10 to 15 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/15 · back-to-backOUT Strawther missed 6 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 7 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 6 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 3/07 after 3, 26 min since (85% of 30)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 38 and Jal. Williams at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holmgren (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 120, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Murray at 24 a game. Without Strawther (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-2 a night and OKC minus-3 and the defense, OKC allowing 114 a night to Denver's 120. Call it OKC 122, Denver 116.
3/02 @ SAS 146-132 — OKC notes
OKC won 146-132. OKC shot 54% (55 of 101) to SAS's 56%, 19 of 44 from three. OKC turned it over 7 times to SAS's 12. The glass went 45-35 for them. Jal. Williams led with 41 (15 of 24, 4 of 8 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Gilgeous-Alexander added 31, Wallace 19. The hinge was Q3, 36-23: OKC came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 8, and the lead reached 22. OKC trailed 72-77 at the half and won the second half 74-55. Wallace was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/03 vs HOU 137-128 — OKC notes
OKC won 137-128. OKC shot 49% (48 of 97) to HOU's 49%, 17 of 37 from three, and went to the line 27 times to HOU's 17 — 24 points from the stripe to their 14. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 51 (18 of 30, 5 of 9 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Jal. Williams added 24, Wallace 14. The hinge was Q3, 39-27: a lead of 1 became 13, and the lead reached 18. Jal. Williams was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
3/05 @ MEM 120-103 — OKC notes
OKC won 120-103. OKC shot 51% (44 of 87) to MEM's 41%, 15 of 36 from three. The glass went 39-49 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 41 (14 of 25, 3 of 5 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Jal. Williams added 20, Wiggins 16. The hinge was Q3, 30-23: a lead of 6 became 13, and the lead reached 21. Dort was the night's best plus/minus at +35.
3/07 vs POR 107-89 — OKC notes
OKC won 107-89. OKC shot 46% (39 of 84) to POR's 35%, 14 of 38 from three. OKC turned it over 11 times to POR's 17. The glass went 43-53 against them. Wiggins led with 30 (13 of 26, 2 of 9 from three); Caruso added 17, Dieng 16. The hinge was Q2, 34-21: a lead of 5 became 18, and the lead reached 21. Jay. Williams was the night's best plus/minus at +35.
3/09 vs DEN 127-103 — OKC notes
OKC won 127-103. OKC shot 49% (46 of 94) to DEN's 41%, 13 of 38 from three. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 40 (15 of 32, 2 of 11 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Jal. Williams added 26, Holmgren 14. The hinge was Q4, 41-20: a lead of 3 became 24. Holmgren was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
3/10 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 41 and Jal. Williams at 28 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 121, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Murray at 23 a game. Without Strawther (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 111 a night to Denver's 121. Call it OKC 122, Denver 114.
3/12 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Tatum at 30 and Brown at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Porziņģis (6 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 39 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-4 a night and OKC minus-4. Call it Boston 115, OKC 113, OKC keeping it close.
3/15 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 29 free throws a game; Cunningham at 32 and Harris at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Smith (5 straight), Harper Jr. (17 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 35 and Jal. Williams at 19 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-4 a night and OKC minus-3 and the turnovers, Detroit giving it away 14 times a game to OKC's 10. Call it OKC 116, Detroit 114, Detroit keeping it close.
3/16 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 29 and Lillard at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Portis (13 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 37 and Holmgren at 15 a game. Without Jal. Williams (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Milwaukee has been plus-8 a night and OKC plus-0 and the turnovers, Milwaukee giving it away 14 times a game to OKC's 11. Call it OKC 115, Milwaukee 113, Milwaukee keeping it close.
2/28 @ DET 134-119 — DEN notes
DEN won 134-119. DEN shot 56% (47 of 84) to DET's 45%, 17 of 31 from three, and went to the line 31 times to DET's 23 — 23 points from the stripe to their 17. DEN turned it over 19 times to DET's 10, and DET turned those into 15 steals. Murray led with 31 (10 of 22, 5 of 9 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Porter Jr. added 28, Braun 23. The hinge was Q3, 39-24: a lead of 5 became 20, and the lead reached 25. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +35.
3/02 @ BOS 103-110 — DEN notes
DEN lost 103-110. DEN took 8 more shots (86 to 78), but shot 48% to BOS's 47%, 12 of 35 from three, and got to the line 13 times to BOS's 27. Murray led with 26 (11 of 20, 2 of 7 from three); Braun added 24, Jokić 20. Q3 was theirs, 29-22, the deficit cut from 13 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 88-74 against them. Strawther's -18 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/05 vs SAC 116-110 — DEN notes
DEN won 116-110. DEN shot 46% (40 of 87) to SAC's 46%, 12 of 35 from three, and went to the line 30 times to SAC's 14 — 24 points from the stripe to their 11. Westbrook led with 25 (10 of 20, 4 of 7 from three); J. Murray added 24, Jokić 22. The hinge was Q4, 32-17: DEN came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 6. DEN trailed 55-65 at the half and won the second half 61-45. J. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/07 vs PHX 149-141 — DEN notes
DEN won 149-141 in 1 overtime. DEN shot 59% (57 of 97) to PHX's 56%, 21 of 40 from three, and got to the line 18 times to PHX's 29. Jokić led with 31 (13 of 22, 3 of 7 from three); Gordon added 27, Braun 25. The hinge was Q1, 37-28: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
3/09 @ OKC 103-127 — DEN notes
DEN lost 103-127. DEN shot 41% (40 of 97) to OKC's 49%, 12 of 40 from three. Jokić led with 24 (10 of 23, 2 of 10 from three, 2 of 6 at the line); Porter Jr. added 24, Braun 19. Q1 was theirs, 29-28, but the other 3 periods went 99-74 against them. They led by as many as 11. Porter Jr.'s -33 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/10 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 41 and Jal. Williams at 28 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 121, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Murray at 23 a game. Without Strawther (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 111 a night to Denver's 121. Call it OKC 122, Denver 114.
3/12 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 123, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Murray at 24 a game. Without Strawther (4 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 110, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 18 free throws a game; Edwards at 26 and McDaniels at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 110 a night to Denver's 123. Call it Denver 118, Minnesota 117, Minnesota keeping it close.
3/14 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 29 and Murray at 21 a game. Without Gordon (2 straight), Strawther (5 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Dončić at 33 and James at 29 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without James (2 straight), Hachimura (7 straight), Hayes (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 114 a night to Denver's 124 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 14 times a game to Denver's 10. Call it Denver 119, the Lakers 114.
3/15 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 127, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jokić at 30 and Murray at 22 a game. Without Strawther (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Washington comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 121, shooting 42 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Poole at 20 and Sarr at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Coulibaly (2 straight), Johnson (2 straight), Brogdon (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 41 percent from three to Washington's 35 and the glass, where Denver has been minus-3 a night and Washington minus-8. Call it Denver 122, Washington 117.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
JM J. Murray
JP J. Pickett
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RW R. Westbrook
SJ S. Jones
ZN Z. Nnaji
OKCAC A. Caruso
AW A. Wiggins
CH C. Holmgren
CW C. Wallace
IH I. Hartenstein
IJ I. Joe
JW J. Williams
JW Jal. Williams
JW Jay. Williams
KW K. Williams
LD L. Dort
SG S. Gilgeous-Alexander
DEN/OKC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Gilgeous-Alexander scores 40 as Thunder top Nuggets 127-103 in matchup of West leaders
OKLAHOMA CITY -- — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Denver Nuggets 127-103 on Sunday in a matchup between the top two teams in the Western Conference.
Gilgeous-Alexander had eight assists and made all eight of his free throws for the West-leading Thunder, who won their seventh straight game and improved to 53-11. Jalen Williams added 26 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
Denver's Nikola Jokic , who along with Gilgeous-Alexander is a top contender in the NBA MVP race, had 24 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists. He was coming off the league’s first 30-20-20 triple-double in his team's 149-141 overtime victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.
Michael Porter Jr . had 24 points and 15 rebounds for the Nuggets.
Denver went up 10-0 early as it took the Thunder nearly three minutes to score, but Oklahoma City cut its deficit to 29-28 by the end of the quarter.
The Thunder led 61-60 at halftime and took an 86-83 lead into the fourth quarter.
In a key sequence, Oklahoma City’s Aaron Wiggins stole the ball from Denver's Russell Westbrook , then Chet Holmgren dunked at the other end to give the Thunder a 98-91 lead with just under nine minutes remaining. Denver coach Michael Malone was called for a technical foul, and Williams made the free throw. Oklahoma City controlled the game from there.
Takeaways Nuggets: Jokic, normally the bully on the court, seemingly got frustrated with Oklahoma's 7-footers, Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein . He put up numbers but wasn't as dominant or smooth as he often is.
Thunder: Oklahoma City played at full strength after resting its key players, including Gilgeous-Alexander, during Friday's win against Portland .
Key mo ment Williams stole the ball from Jokic to spark a fast break. Oklahoma City's Lu Dort went up for a one-handed dunk that would have ignited the crowd, but he missed. Williams collected the rebound, then found Dort open in the corner. Dort knocked down a 3 that put the Thunder ahead 112-99 with just over four minutes remaining.
Key stat The Thunder committed just five turnovers.
Up next The teams meet again Monday night in Oklahoma City.