Nuggets
Thunder turn 22 Nuggets turnovers into a rout and open the season 2-0
Oklahoma City beat Denver 96-84 at Paycom Center. The Thunder won the third quarter 26-16 and turned Denver's 22 turnovers into 21 points. Oklahoma City is 2-0, and Denver is 0-1.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 9 h ago01The story of the nightThe third quarter decided itDenver led after the first quarter, 27-24, and after the second, 48-44.
Denver led after the first quarter, 27-24, and after the second, 48-44. The Nuggets scored 27 in the first and 21 in the second. Then the offense stopped. They scored 16 in the third quarter while Oklahoma City put up 26, and the Thunder went to the fourth up 70-64. Oklahoma City matched that 26 in the fourth, and Denver managed 20. The game had only 2 lead changes, and the Thunder held the last one. Their biggest lead was 17. Denver's was 9. Once Oklahoma City got in front, Denver never found a stretch that brought it back.
02Top performersJalen Williams led Oklahoma City with 21 points on 7/15 shooting and went 5/6 at the line.
Jalen Williams led Oklahoma City with 21 points on 7/15 shooting and went 5/6 at the line. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 17 points, though he shot 6/19 and 3/11 from three. His team was 21 points better with him on the floor. Chet Holmgren had 12 points, 17 rebounds and 4 blocks. Ajay Mitchell scored 12 off the bench and had 5 steals. For Denver, Aaron Gordon was the best player on the floor with 20 points on 6/9 shooting, including 3/4 from three. DeMar DeRozan scored 13 off the bench. Nikola Jokic had 13 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, but he shot 5/19.
03Where it was wonTurnovers and the paint.
Turnovers and the paint. Denver gave the ball away 22 times, and Oklahoma City scored 21 points off those mistakes. The Thunder turned over the ball only 12 times. They also had 12 steals and 9 blocks, against 7 steals and 2 blocks for Denver. Oklahoma City scored 46 points in the paint to Denver's 36 and led the fast-break count 10-2. Neither team shot well. The Thunder made 36 of 95 shots, 37.9%. The Nuggets made 31 of 82, 37.8%. Oklahoma City made 11 threes on 43 tries, and Denver made 8 on 30. Denver won the rebounding, 66-55, but it did not matter.
04Denver's cold shooting and turnoversJamal Murray had 10 rebounds and 3 assists, but he scored 6 points on 2/11 shooting and turned the ball over 6 times.
Jamal Murray had 10 rebounds and 3 assists, but he scored 6 points on 2/11 shooting and turned the ball over 6 times. DeRozan had 5 turnovers. Christian Braun made 3 of 10 shots and scored 7. Trevon Brazile grabbed 12 rebounds in 18.4 minutes off the bench. Denver's bench scored 33 points, two more than Oklahoma City's 31. Denver also shot 14/22 at the line, while the Thunder made 13 of 14. Those misses and the turnovers cost the Nuggets more than the bench points gave back.
05What it meansOklahoma City is 2-0 and has won both games it has played this season.
Oklahoma City is 2-0 and has won both games it has played this season. The defense forced turnovers, blocked shots and ran the floor, and it did that without a big shooting night. Cason Wallace hit 3 of 6 threes for 9 points and had 4 steals. Alex Caruso scored 7 with 5 assists and no turnovers. Denver falls to 0-1. The Nuggets will need to take better care of the ball and get more from Murray and Jokic if they want to avoid another night like this.
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