Thunder Beat Nuggets 96–84 as Gilgeous-Alexander’s Scoring Streak Ends
The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Denver Nuggets 96–84 on Thursday, October 22nd, winning a defensive contest on a night when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s historic scoring streak ended. Jalen Williams led Oklahoma City with 21 points as the Thunder found enough offense to support a strong performance at the other end.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 17 points on 6-for-19 shooting, ending his record streak of 141 consecutive games with at least 20 points. NBA.com’s Friday briefing dates the start of that run to November 1st, 2024, a stretch spanning 718 days.
Defense decides the result
The individual milestone was only part of the story. Oklahoma City held Denver to 37.8% shooting and just 36 points in the second half, creating the separation it needed in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets finished with 84 points, below their lowest total of 87 from the previous season.
That shooting performance also stood apart from Denver’s recent baseline. NBA.com reports that the Nuggets shot at least 40% in all 82 games last season. Oklahoma City pushed them below that mark while limiting the influence of Nikola Jokić, who recorded 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists on 5-for-19 shooting.
Holmgren and Williams provide support
Chet Holmgren contributed 12 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks. His work around the basket gave Oklahoma City a presence on both ends, while Williams added five rebounds to his game-high scoring total.
Together, those contributions show why the Thunder could win without another 20-point performance from Gilgeous-Alexander. The offense did not need an overwhelming scoring night because Denver struggled to convert possessions, especially after halftime.
A streak ends, but the team advances
For Gilgeous-Alexander, the final line closes an exceptional run of scoring consistency. For Oklahoma City, the more immediate result was a win secured through defense and production from multiple players. The two outcomes belong to the same night without telling the same story.
One early-season game cannot establish a season-long defensive standard. It does, however, give the Thunder a concrete example of how to win when their leading scorer has a difficult shooting night. Follow PowerPage Sports for more NBA and regional coverage.
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