Game ID: 22400936
Denver Nuggets @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Monday, March 10, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
OKC 32 41 26 28 127DEN 34 33 34 39 140
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 3/03 · 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
OKC availability going into 3/19 · 2 days' restOUT Jal. Williams missed 3 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 34 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holmgren back 3/09 after 2, 31 min since (109% of 28)
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)
DEN availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 7 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 8 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 7 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 3/14 after 2, 32 min since (104% of 30)
NEW Westbrook 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 10 to 16 min over the last 5
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.
3/03 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 127-140 — OKC notes
OKC lost 127-140. OKC took 14 more shots (100 to 86), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 47% to DEN's 60%, 19 of 47 from three. Dort led with 26 (9 of 16, 8 of 14 from three); Gilgeous-Alexander added 25, Hartenstein 20. Q2 was theirs, 41-33, turning a 2-point deficit into a 6-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 107-86 against them. They led by as many as 12. Holmgren's -20 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
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.
3/19 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 36 and Hartenstein at 15 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Jal. Williams (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 126, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Grimes at 34 and Dowtin Jr. at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Maxey (8 straight), Oubre Jr. (3 straight), Walker IV (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where OKC has been plus-5 a night and Philadelphia minus-13 and the defense, OKC allowing 113 a night to Philadelphia's 126. Call it OKC 122, Philadelphia 111, OKC by 11.
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 140-127 — DEN notes
DEN won 140-127. DEN shot 60% (52 of 86) to OKC's 47%, 18 of 32 from three. Jokić led with 35 (15 of 20); Murray added 34, Porter Jr. 17. The hinge was Q4, 39-28: a lead of 2 became 13, and the lead reached 16. DEN trailed 67-73 at the half and won the second half 73-54. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
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.
3/17 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 28 free throws a game; Curry at 27 and Butler III at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Podziemski (4 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jokić at 32 and Murray at 23 a game. Without Strawther (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the defense, Golden State allowing 109 a night to Denver's 124 and the glass, where Golden State has been plus-4 a night and Denver minus-4. Call it Golden State 120, Denver 113.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENCB C. Braun
JM J. Murray
JP J. Pickett
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RW R. Westbrook
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
LD L. Dort
OD O. Dieng
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
Jokic has 35 points and 18 rebounds to lead Nuggets past West-leading Thunder 140-127
OKLAHOMA CITY -- — Nikola Jokic had 35 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 140-127 on Monday night.
Jamal Murray scored 34 points for the Nuggets, who lost 127-103 in Oklahoma City on Sunday .
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , the NBA's leading scorer and a top contender for league MVP with Jokic, finished with 25 points for the Thunder. He scored 40 the day before.
Lu Dort had a season-high 26 points and made eight 3-pointers and Isaiah Hartenstein scored 20 points for Oklahoma City. The loss snapped a seven-game win streak for the Thunder, who have the best record in the Western Conference and are vying with Cleveland for the top record in the league.
The season series ends tied at 2-all, with the teams splitting the games at each venue.
The Thunder led 73-67 at halftime behind 16 points from Hartenstein and 15 from Gilgeous-Alexander. But Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams left the game in the second quarter with a right hip strain and did not return. He had 12 points and six assists in 14 minutes.
Denver took advantage and led 101-99 at the end of the third quarter.
The Nuggets dominated the fourth quarter, much the way the Thunder did the previous day. Murray hit a 3-pointer that gave Denver a 109-101 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining, and the Nuggets cruised from there.
Takeaways Nuggets: Denver showed its grit by bouncing back against a younger, deeper team on the second half of a back-to-back.
Thunder: Oklahoma City wasn't nearly as fluid in the second half without Williams. The Thunder will need him to recover quickly if they want a shot at the overall top seed.
Key mo ment Russell Westbrook and Peyton Watson made back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Nuggets a 125-111 lead with just under seven minutes remaining.
Key stat Jokic made 15 of 20 field goals.
Up next Nuggets host Minnesota on Wednesday, and Thunder visit Boston.