Jalen Williams Leads Oklahoma City Thunder Past Denver Nuggets
The Oklahoma City Thunder opened their home schedule with a hard-fought 96–84 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, using a strong second-half performance to extend their winning start to 2–0.
Oklahoma City faced a competitive challenge in the opening half, trailing 48–44 at the break. The Thunder responded after halftime, tightening their defence and finding greater rhythm offensively to outscore Denver 52–36 over the final two quarters.
Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 21 points, five rebounds and three assists. His scoring proved crucial in a contest where neither team managed to establish complete control early on.
Chet Holmgren delivered an impressive all-round performance, finishing with 12 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks. His presence around the basket helped Oklahoma City limit Denver’s scoring opportunities, particularly as the Thunder took control in the second half.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 17 points and three assists, while Ajay Mitchell contributed 12 points and five steals. Mitchell’s defensive effort was particularly noteworthy, with the five steals marking a career high.
Denver received 20 points from Aaron Gordon but struggled to maintain its offensive production after the interval. The Nuggets managed just 36 points in the second half, allowing Oklahoma City to build a decisive advantage and close out the game.
The victory moves the Thunder to 2–0, providing an encouraging start to their campaign. Their second-half defence and Holmgren’s dominance on the boards were key factors in a win that demonstrated their ability to grind out results even when their offence is not at its most productive.
