Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder had a message to deliver two nights after a Game 1 meltdown.
It was an emphatic one.
SGA scored a game-high 34 points on 11-for-13 shooting and the Thunder evened up their second-round NBA playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 149-106 beatdown Wednesday night at Paycom Center.
The Thunder broke the NBA playoff record with 87 points in the first half, en route to becoming the first team to win on its home court in seven tries in this year’s conference semifinals. OKC’s 149 points were also a franchise playoff record.
OKC led by as many as 49 points.
How bad did things get for the Nuggets? Nikola Jokic fouled out with a minute left in the third quarter. The reigning NBA MVP scored just 17 points, two nights after posting 42 points in Game 1.
Both teams emptied their benches early in the fourth quarter as OKC and Denver now shift their attention to Friday night’s Game 3 at Ball Arena (9 p.m., ESPN).
Thunder vs Nuggets live score updates in Game 2 of NBA Playoffs
Apparently the Thunder wasn’t content with a 31-point halftime lead.
OKC didn’t let up in the third quarter. The Thunder dug in, upping the lead to 48.
The Thunder reached the 100-point mark before the third quarter was halfway over.
Despite the 31-point halftime margin, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stuck to his usual rotations. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played the entire third quarter.
Nikola Jokic, who was probably about to check out for the final time anyway, fouled out late in the third quarter.
—Joe Mussatto, Columnist
Jokic just fouled out before the fourth quarter. Wow.
End of first half: Thunder 87, Nuggets 56 | OKC sets NBA playoff record
After starting the game scoring on nine of its first 11 possessions, the Thunder got off to another hot start in the second quarter.
OKC scored on its first six possessions, including seven points by Jalen Williams, and pushed its lead to 29 points, the largest margin in the game to that point.
It got bigger, of course.
The Thunder led by as many as 35 points even though it didn’t shoot the ball as well in the second quarter. Then again, it’d be difficult to shoot better than it did in the first frame. After going 15 of 21 in the first quarter for 71.4%, OKC was 15 of 30 for 50% in the second.
The Thunder’s 87 points set an NBA playoff record for the most points in a half.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads all scorers with 18 points. Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook lead the Nuggets with 15 points each.
—Jenni Carlson, Columnist
Those two blocks from Chet were wild. Stood up Aaron Gordon with a full head of steam on the baseline, then swatted his second attempt. David Adelman pregame called Chet “one of the better shot blockers I’ve ever seen with the timing.”
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Thunder outscored Denver 10-2 in a 3-min span with Jaylin Williams on the floor. That lineup with him, SGA-Dort-Dub-Chet had a 40 drtg. And saw him push back on Russ/match his intensity, which hadn’t really happened to this point.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Isaiah Hartenstein blew an open alley-oop dunk on the first possession of Monday’s Game 1.
It was a sign of rust for OKC, which hadn’t played since April 26. But it didn’t take long for Hartenstein to redeem himself Wednesday.
Chet Holmgren caught a pass in the paint during OKC’s fourth possession of the night. And when Nikola Jokic stepped up to defend him, Holmgren threw a lob to Hartenstein.
This time, the big man caught the pass with both hands and rattled the rim with an emphatic slam. That helped set the tone early on for the Thunder, which came out swinging after receiving a gut punch in Game 1.
OKC jumped out to a 45-21 lead in the first quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 13 points and five assists, while Lu Dort added 10 points.
The 45 points tied a Thunder playoff record for most points in a quarter.
—Justin Martinez, Staff writer
Referee Scott Foster calls a technical foul on Russell Westbrook after a heated conversation.
Thunder roar in approval.
Russ whistled for a tech here. Things getting chippy. Jaylin Williams gave Jokic a nudge to the back while fighting for position, whistled for a foul, and Westbrook approached him afterward with some words. pic.twitter.com/23frVtkTM5
— Joel Lorenzi (@JoelXLorenzi) May 8, 2025
Thunder has thrown the kind of first punch I’d expect from a team that suffered the kind of loss it did two days ago. 25-11 OKC lead, 9-14 from the floor, holding Denver to 3-of-12 shooting. Jokic is 1 for 4. Some pretty solid possessions on him.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Midway through the first quarter, the NCAA champion OU women’s gymnastics team was honored during a timeout.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault’s wife, Ashley Kerr, helped the OU women’s gymnastics team bring home a national championship. She is in her eighth year as a Sooner assistant.
The Thunder will run back the double-big lineup with Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort, Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Nuggets go with Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., Christian Braun and Jamal Murray.
—Jeff Patterson, Sports editor
One could look at Denver’s offensive shift down the stretch of Game 1 and see the championship meddle.
The Nuggets went from transition clumsiness and forfeiting pick-sixes to solid possessions, all they needed to make a difference against Oklahoma City late. Contributing to Denver’s ball control, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault says, was how it was able to slow the game down.
“I thought the free throws hurt us down the stretch,” Daigneault said. “I thought it hurt not only moving the scoreboard for them without wasting any time, but it also sets their defense. I mean, they’re a great offensive team with great top end talent, so sometimes you tip your hat to plays that they can make or shots that they can make, but I thought those ones hurt us.”
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
The NBA referee crew for Wednesday’s Game 2 of the Thunder-Nuggets series is crew chief Scott Foster (48), James Williams (50), Ed Malloy (14) and JB DeRosa (22).
Staying afloat against the Thunder’s first wave of energy isn’t good enough, Nuggets coach David Adelman said pregame.
“It’s not the first punch with this team, it’s when they rotate guys in,” Adelman said before Game 2. “You have to take a couple punches early. It’s not just their starting five that is so exceptional.”
Adelman specifically mentioned Alex Caruso, who was arguably the Thunder’s best player in Game 1.
The Thunder played 10 guys in Game 1. The Nuggets barely played eight. Julian Strawther, Denver’s eighth man, played six minutes in Game 1.
—Joe Mussatto, Columnist
What time is Thunder vs Nuggets NBA game tonight?Date: Wednesday, May 7Time: 8:30 p.m. CTWhere: Paycom Center in OKC
The Thunder vs Nuggets game starts at 8:30 p.m. CT Wednesday from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
What channel is Thunder vs Nuggets on tonight in NBA Playoffs?TV: TNTHow to watch online: Sling TV (free trial), truTV and MaxRadio: WWLS 98.1 FM
The Thunder vs Nuggets game will be broadcast on TNT. It can be streamed on Sling TV, truTV and Max.
Thunder vs Nuggets playoff schedule
All times are Central Time (CT)
Thunder vs. Nuggets betting odds
Odds via BetMGM as of Tuesday, May 6
Odds: Thunder by 11.5
Over/under: 229.5
Moneyline: OKC -600 | Denver +425
Justin Martinez: Thunder 122, Nuggets 113
This feels pretty close to a must-win game for OKC, which can’t afford to fall behind 2-0 in the series with the next two games in Denver. For that reason, I expect the Thunder to set the tone early on. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will continue to cause problems for Denver on offense, while Alex Caruso and OKC’s defense will continue to be disruptive. Give me the Thunder at home.
Thunder vs. Nuggets highlights in Game 2 of Western Conference semifinals
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