Oklahoma City ThunderOpen full analysis
Denver NuggetsOpen full analysis
Oklahoma City defeated Denver 121–111 on February 1 at Ball Arena, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the Thunder to victory by scoring 34 points while Chet Wallace added 27. The Thunder's third-quarter explosion—39 points in the period—proved decisive, extending their lead before Denver's late push fell short. Oklahoma City shot 47.1 percent from the field and connected on 19 three-pointers, controlling the pace with a 123.6 offensive rating compared to Denver's 112.6. Despite P. Watson's team-high 29 points for the Nuggets, Denver's defense struggled, allowing 121 points while posting a 123.6 defensive rating. The combined 232 points exceeded the 225.5 Vegas total, driven largely by Oklahoma City's 12 steals and Denver's 17 turnovers. The Thunder's bench depth and perimeter shooting proved too much for Denver's secondary scoring, with Nikola Jokić managing only 16 points in a rare off night. Oklahoma City's third-quarter dominance underscores their growing consistency as a Western Conference contender.
