Jokic's 28 points lead Nuggets past Thunder 128-95 in Holmgren's 1st regular-season home game
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma City Thunder are a young, talented team on the rise. The defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets showed them just how much work they have ahead to reach that elite level.
Nikola Jokic had 28 points and 14 rebounds to help the Nuggets roll past the Thunder 128-95 on Sunday for their third straight win to open the season.
“They’re defending champs, and they’re not that by fluke,” Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They play the right way on both ends of the floor and they are a really good basketball team. They came to play tonight. We weren’t good enough to compete against them.”
Michael Porter Jr. had 20 points and nine rebounds and Jamal Murray added 19 points and eight assists for the Nuggets, who shot 60.2% from the field.
Denver coach Michael Malone liked the energy the Nuggets brought.
“Winning a championship, the one thing you worry about is thinking we can just show up this year and we’re going to win,” he said. “And that’s not the case. This is a brand new season. What we did last year, although magical in nature, has nothing to do with this season. And I think our players, the way they’re playing - it’s very early - but after three games, our guys are playing with the requisite mindset that you need to if you’re going to be a team that can try to win another championship.”
Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren was the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft, but he missed last season with a foot injury. He got a loud cheer when he was introduced with the starters in his first regular-season home game and delivered a team-leading 19 points.
Gilgeous-Alexander, a first-team All-NBA selection last season, scored just seven points on 2-for-16 shooting. Denver's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was assigned to guard him.
“You’ve got to credit guys like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who I think is an all-NBA defender," Malone said. "You know, we asked him to guard the best players 82 regular season games and 20 playoff games last year and he’s totally committed to that. He understands that that’s his greatest gift to this basketball team.”
The Nuggets held the Thunder to 41.1% shooting overall.
“We know that we have to be a team that can travel, beat the best teams in the NBA on the road,” Malone said. “And to do that, you have to bring the defense. And I felt our defense tonight was outstanding across the board.”
Oklahoma City opened the season with road wins over Chicago and Cleveland and could have made an early statement with a win over Denver.
Jokic made sure that didn't happen. The two-time MVP and 2023 Finals MVP dominated the first half. He had 22 points, including a layup at the buzzer, to give Denver a 69-51 edge at the break.
Holmgren scored 17 points in the first half. Gilgeous-Alexander went 0 for 9 from the field and had three points before the break.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: Host the Utah Jazz on Monday.
Thunder: Host the Detroit Pistons on Monday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Nikola Jokic vs. Chet Holmgren (Jamal Murray gains possession) | |||
11:41 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point layup (Jamal Murray assists) | 2-0 | |
11:22 | Josh Giddey misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
11:19 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
11:08 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point layup (Jamal Murray assists) | 4-0 | |
10:56 | +3 | Chet Holmgren makes three point jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 4-3 | |
10:28 | Jamal Murray misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
10:23 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
10:19 | Aaron Gordon blocks Josh Giddey's two point cutting layup | |||
10:19 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
10:10 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point turnaround jump shot (Jalen Williams assists) | 4-5 | |
9:55 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 6-5 | |
9:30 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses three point jump shot | |||
9:26 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
9:18 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shooting foul (Aaron Gordon draws the foul) | |||
9:18 | Aaron Gordon misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
9:18 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
9:18 | +1 | Aaron Gordon makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 7-5 | |
9:03 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point driving dunk (Josh Giddey assists) | 7-7 | |
8:44 | Aaron Gordon misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
8:40 | Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound | |||
8:39 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point jump shot | 9-7 | |
8:14 | Chet Holmgren misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
8:12 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
8:02 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point stepback jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 11-7 | |
7:52 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point driving finger roll layup | 11-9 | |
7:41 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point driving layup | 13-9 | |
7:41 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shooting foul (Aaron Gordon draws the foul) | |||
7:41 | Thunder 60 second timeout | |||
7:41 | Aaron Gordon misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
7:39 | Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound | |||
7:32 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
7:29 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
7:17 | Josh Giddey misses two point driving layup | |||
7:15 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
7:11 | Aaron Gordon misses two point running layup | |||
7:10 | Jamal Murray offensive rebound | |||
7:08 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point putback layup | 15-9 | |
6:49 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point finger roll layup | |||
6:47 | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | |||
6:44 | Aaron Gordon misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
6:40 | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | |||
6:35 | Nikola Jokic shooting foul (Luguentz Dort draws the foul) | |||
6:35 | +1 | Luguentz Dort makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-10 | |
6:35 | +1 | Luguentz Dort makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-11 | |
6:22 | Luguentz Dort blocks Nikola Jokic's two point layup | |||
6:19 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
6:15 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
6:12 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
6:08 | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point running pullup jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 18-11 | |
5:59 | Chet Holmgren misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
5:56 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope defensive rebound | |||
5:52 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point driving floating jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 20-11 | |
5:52 | Chet Holmgren shooting foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | |||
5:52 | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 21-11 | |
5:38 | Jalen Williams misses two point driving layup | |||
5:35 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
5:25 | Nikola Jokic misses two point driving hook shot | |||
5:23 | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | |||
5:23 | Nikola Jokic misses two point tip layup | |||
5:23 | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | |||
5:21 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point putback layup | 23-11 | |
5:05 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point alley-oop layup (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 23-13 | |
4:39 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses three point jump shot | |||
4:35 | Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound | |||
4:33 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point turnaround jump shot | 25-13 | |
4:24 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point driving hook shot | 25-15 | |
4:09 | Nikola Jokic turnover (bad pass) (Luguentz Dort steals) | |||
4:07 | +2 | Luguentz Dort makes two point running layup | 25-17 | |
4:07 | Reggie Jackson shooting foul (Luguentz Dort draws the foul) | |||
4:07 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
4:07 | +1 | Luguentz Dort makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 25-18 | |
3:57 | Aleksej Pokusevski personal foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | |||
3:50 | +2 | Peyton Watson makes two point cutting layup (Nikola Jokic assists) | 27-18 | |
3:41 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point driving layup | 27-20 | |
3:26 | Christian Braun misses three point jump shot | |||
3:21 | Cason Wallace defensive rebound | |||
3:15 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
3:10 | Christian Braun defensive rebound | |||
2:53 | +2 | Christian Braun makes two point driving layup (Peyton Watson assists) | 29-20 | |
2:38 | Josh Giddey misses two point driving layup | |||
2:37 | Josh Giddey offensive rebound | |||
2:31 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point driving layup | |||
2:26 | Peyton Watson defensive rebound | |||
2:21 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses three point running jump shot | |||
2:18 | Peyton Watson offensive rebound | |||
2:16 | Peyton Watson misses two point layup | |||
2:16 | Aleksej Pokusevski defensive rebound | |||
2:01 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
1:57 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
1:54 | +2 | Peyton Watson makes two point running dunk (Nikola Jokic assists) | 31-20 | |
1:30 | Josh Giddey misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
1:28 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
1:15 | Zeke Nnaji shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | |||
1:15 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
1:15 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
1:15 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-21 | |
1:05 | Cason Wallace blocks Jamal Murray's two point turnaround jump shot | |||
1:01 | Cason Wallace defensive rebound | |||
0:51 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
0:48 | Christian Braun defensive rebound | |||
0:33 | Jamal Murray misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
0:33 | Isaiah Joe defensive rebound | |||
0:24 | Peyton Watson blocks Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's two point driving hook shot | |||
0:24 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
0:20 | +2 | Aaron Wiggins makes two point driving layup (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 31-23 | |
0:03 | +3 | Reggie Jackson makes three point jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 34-23 | |
0:00 | Isaiah Joe misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
0:00 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:44 | Isaiah Joe misses three point jump shot | |||
11:41 | Christian Braun defensive rebound | |||
11:39 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point running dunk (Christian Braun assists) | 36-23 | |
11:26 | Jalen Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
11:23 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
11:14 | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
11:14 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
11:14 | Cason Wallace personal foul (Loose ball) (Zeke Nnaji draws the foul) | |||
11:09 | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
11:06 | Zeke Nnaji offensive rebound | |||
11:05 | Jalen Williams blocks Zeke Nnaji's two point putback layup | |||
11:04 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
10:58 | Jamal Murray turnover (bad pass) (Isaiah Joe steals) | |||
10:44 | Ousmane Dieng misses three point jump shot | |||
10:41 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
10:35 | Isaiah Joe personal foul (Zeke Nnaji draws the foul) | |||
10:24 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point driving layup (Christian Braun assists) | 38-23 | |
10:13 | Christian Braun personal foul (Jalen Williams draws the foul) | |||
10:08 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point driving layup | 38-25 | |
10:08 | Michael Porter Jr. shooting foul (Jalen Williams draws the foul) | |||
10:08 | +1 | Jalen Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 38-26 | |
9:49 | Jamal Murray misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
9:45 | Jalen Williams defensive rebound | |||
9:41 | +3 | Cason Wallace makes three point running jump shot (Jalen Williams assists) | 38-29 | |
9:25 | +2 | Christian Braun makes two point driving layup (Michael Porter Jr. assists) | 40-29 | |
9:25 | Jalen Williams shooting foul (Christian Braun draws the foul) | |||
9:25 | +1 | Christian Braun makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 41-29 | |
9:11 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point driving bank hook shot | 41-31 | |
8:55 | Jalen Williams personal foul (Peyton Watson draws the foul) | |||
8:49 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point driving bank jump shot | 43-31 | |
8:49 | Thunder 60 second timeout | |||
8:38 | +2 | Vasilije Micic makes two point driving layup (Jalen Williams assists) | 43-33 | |
8:25 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
8:17 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
8:13 | Isaiah Joe defensive rebound | |||
8:00 | +2 | Cason Wallace makes two point reverse layup (Jalen Williams assists) | 43-35 | |
7:45 | +2 | Peyton Watson makes two point cutting dunk (Reggie Jackson assists) | 45-35 | |
7:27 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point layup (Cason Wallace assists) | 45-37 | |
7:08 | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
7:05 | Jalen Williams defensive rebound | |||
7:01 | Vasilije Micic misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
6:59 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
6:59 | Michael Porter Jr. personal foul (Loose ball) (Chet Holmgren draws the foul) | |||
6:54 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point floating jump shot (Vasilije Micic assists) | 45-39 | |
6:39 | Isaiah Joe shooting foul (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope draws the foul) | |||
6:39 | +1 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 46-39 | |
6:39 | +1 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 47-39 | |
6:26 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point driving finger roll layup (Vasilije Micic assists) | 47-41 | |
6:00 | Nikola Jokic misses three point jump shot | |||
5:55 | Jalen Williams defensive rebound | |||
5:42 | Vasilije Micic turnover (bad pass) (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope steals) | |||
5:39 | +2 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes two point running layup | 49-41 | |
5:24 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point driving floating jump shot | 49-43 | |
5:09 | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Reggie Jackson assists) | 52-43 | |
4:46 | Chet Holmgren misses two point layup | |||
4:44 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
4:34 |