OKC Thunder Shines in NBA Season Opener Against Denver Nuggets

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge for the Oklahoma City Thunder with a remarkable 28-point performance, backed by a solid contribution of 25 points by Chet Holmgren, as they clinched a 102-87 victory over the Denver Nuggets in their inaugural match of the NBA season. Holmgren’s display extended beyond scoring, as his prowess was evident on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court.

Chet Holmgren: A Force to Be Reckoned With

Holmgren put forth a comprehensive performance, equaling his career-best 14 rebounds, providing five assists, and denying the Nuggets four times with his shot-blocking skills. Aaron Wiggins, coming off the bench, also made a significant impact with 15 points. This match carried substantial weight, being a divisional showdown from the get-go. Both teams had matched records of 57-25 in the previous season, but the Thunder had secured the top seed in the Western Conference thanks to a tiebreaker.

Nikola Jokic and Denver Nuggets’ Performance

Denver’s reigning NBA MVP, Nikola Jokic, notched a triple-double with 16 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds. However, his partner Jamal Murray could only muster 12 points, converting only 4 of 14 attempts. Christian Braun chipped in with 16 points, while Aaron Gordon, hot off signing a contract extension, added 12 points. The Nuggets struggled from beyond the arc, making just 7 of 39 three-point attempts.

Key Highlights from the Game

For the Thunder, one of the standout moments came when Holmgren proved his on-court dominance. In the third quarter, he blocked Jokic’s shot, sprinted down the court, and finished with a thunderous dunk. On the other hand, the Thunder’s bench outscored Denver’s by 25-16, even new recruit Russell Westbrook could only contribute 6 points from 2-of-10 shooting.

A Tribute to Dikembe Mutombo

Before the game, Denver’s team members and coaching staff honored the late Dikembe Mutombo, who passed away last month from brain cancer at the age of 58. They wore t-shirts featuring the big man’s famous finger wag, and a video tribute was aired in the first quarter, celebrating his significant contributions both on and off the court. This was followed by a 55-second applause by the fans, in honor of his jersey number.

Thunder’s Youthful Advantage

The Thunder started this regular season with the youngest roster in the NBA, averaging 24 years and 148 days. They will be looking to capitalize on this youth and energy when they face the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the Nuggets will host the Los Angeles Clippers the same night, hoping to bounce back from their opening loss.