Oklahoma City scored a playoff-record 87 points in the first half and routed Denver 149-106 in Game 2 on 7 May 2025.
The Thunder levelled the Western Conference semi-final at 1-1 with a performance that was effectively over by the break.
Thunder set the record before half-time
Oklahoma City led 45-21 after shooting 71.4 percent in the opening quarter. Chet Holmgren’s two free throws with one second left in the half made it 87-56.
The 87 points passed Cleveland’s previous first-half playoff record of 86 and matched the highest-scoring half of any kind.
Every Thunder starter reached double figures before the interval.
Gilgeous-Alexander dominates in three quarters
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points on 11-of-13 shooting and made all 11 free throws. He added eight assists and sat out the fourth.
Eight Oklahoma City players scored at least 10. The lead reached 48 by the end of the third quarter.
Denver cannot repeat its Game 1 performance
Nikola Jokic had produced 42 points and 22 rebounds in Denver’s Game 1 victory. He was held to 17 points and eight rebounds in the rematch before fouling out.
Russell Westbrook led the Nuggets with 19, but also received a technical foul during Oklahoma City’s early surge.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault rejected the idea that his team had simply reacted to losing Game 1. He said the performance reflected the level Oklahoma City had maintained all season.
