Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) and forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) during a time out ihe first quarter of an NBA game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Nikola Jokic had 23 points, 20 rebounds and 16 assists, Peyton Watson made a game-sealing block with one second left and the host Denver Nuggets handed the Oklahoma City Thunder their first loss of the NBA season, 124-122 on Wednesday.
Russell Westbrook scored 29 points, Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun had 24 each and Watson finished with 10 points and three blocks for Denver, which ended a four-game head-to-head losing streak against Oklahoma City.
Jokic logged his fourth triple-double of the season.
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The Nuggets played without Jamal Murray (concussion protocol) for the third straight game and without Aaron Gordon, who will miss multiple weeks due to a right calf strain.
Jalen Williams had 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for the Thunder, who had opened with seven straight wins. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28, Chet Holmgren had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Joe scored 11 points each.
Jokić and Russ were UNREAL tonight in the @nuggets win.
🔥 Joker: 23p, 20r, 16a, 2s, 2b
🔥 Brodie: 29p (10-15 shooting), 6r, 6a
Jokić joins Westbrook (Apr. 2, 2019) as the 2nd player to record a 20/20/15 game since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968! pic.twitter.com/zwozPyYZ2M
— NBA (@NBA) November 7, 2024
Denver trailed by two early in the fourth quarter before Westbrook converted a three-point play, Porter sank a 3-pointer and Westbrook added another basket as the Nuggets went ahead 103-99.
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Denver missed nine consecutive shots and didn’t score for 4:08 while the Thunder reeled off the next seven points to go up 106-103.
Watson split a pair of free throws, Braun made a layup and Porter hit from deep to put the Nuggets back in front 109-108.
Braun and Watson sank 3-pointers and Julian Strawther had a putback dunk during an 11-5 run that gave Denver a 123-115, but Williams scored five straight to make it 123-120 entering the final minute.
Jokic split a pair of free throws with 27 seconds left, Gilgeous-Alexander made a layup and Watson missed two foul shots, leaving Oklahoma City within two.
However, Watson blocked Gilgeous-Alexander’s last-second floater to preserve the win.
The Thunder led 66-55 at halftime, but the Nuggets used a 40-point third quarter to storm back.
Porter hit a 19-footer to get Denver within 71-62, but the Thunder scored seven straight, one courtesy of a technical foul on Denver coach Michael Malone.
The technical sparked the Nuggets, who hit four shots from deep during a 24-6 run that gave Denver an 89-87 lead, and the teams were tied 95-95 entering the fourth quarter. –Field Level Media