NBA: Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder roll past Nuggets to tie West semis
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) leaps to the basket for a shot over Denver Nuggets’ Peyton Watson (8) in the second half of Game 2 in the conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points in three quarters, and the Oklahoma City Thunder set league and team records in a 149-106 win over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night that tied the NBA Western Conference semifinal series at one game apiece.
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Oklahoma City set an NBA playoff record for first-half points with 87, surpassing the 86 scored by the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 9, 2017. Chet Holmgren, who missed two critical free throws late in Game 1, made a pair with one second remaining in the second quarter to set the record and give the Thunder an 87-56 lead.
The Thunder tied the record for points in any half of a playoff game. Milwaukee had 87 in the second half against Denver on April 23, 1978.
Oklahoma City became the first home team to win a game in the second round. Game 3 is Friday in Denver.
Gilgeous-Alexander made 11 of 13 field goals, all 11 of his free throws and had eight assists. He led eight players who scored in double figures.
READ: NBA playoffs: Youthful Thunder face experienced Nuggets
Russell Westbrook led the Nuggets with 19 points. Nikola Jokic, who had 42 points and 22 rebounds for Denver in a Game 1 win, had just 17 points and eight rebounds on Wednesday before fouling out late in the third quarter.
The crowd cheered for Westbrook, the ex-Thunder star, when he entered Game 1 as a reserve for Denver, but booed him shortly after he entered Game 2. Westbrook got called for a technical foul moments later, and Gilgeous-Alexander made the free throw to make it 34-13.
The Thunder led 45-21 at the end of the first quarter after shooting 71.4% from the field and setting a team record for points in a quarter in a playoff game.
Oklahoma City continued its dominance in the second quarter. A lob from Gilgeous-Alexander to Jalen Williams for a two-handed jam gave the Thunder a 78-43 lead.
Oklahoma City led 124-76 after three quarters. The largest lead was 49 points.
